Smile 2 Opens Strong at Weekend Box Office

Smile 2 has debuted as the top film at the North American box office, earning $23 million in its opening weekend, slightly surpassing the original's $22.6 million debut. The film, directed by Parker Finn, also performed well internationally, bringing its global total to $46 million. Audience reception has been positive, with a B CinemaScore, indicating an improvement over the first film's B- rating, and an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Other notable films include The Wild Robot, which grossed $10.1 million, and Terrifier 3, which fell to third place with $9.3 million. The success of Smile 2 reflects a strong interest in the horror genre, particularly in psychological thrillers, as the film continues the franchise's momentum. Despite a challenging year for horror films, Smile 2's performance suggests a potential resurgence for the genre.