Paramounts Smile 2 earned $2.5 million in previews last night starting at 5 p.m. at 3,000 locations, which is half a million higher than the 2022 film’s $2 million preview figure. Smile continued with an opening of $22.6 million and went on to reach $105.9 million. Presales indicated high teens Smile 2Perhaps Paramount executives will have something to grin about this weekend, though, and the sequel will move forward. Smile 2 has all PLF screens this weekend, while the Imaxes are live with Warner Bros’ Joker: Folie a Deux.

The film is certified “fresh” with an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and last night’s PostTrak fan ratings were 3 1/2 stars and 71% positive. Latino and Hispanic moviegoers were strong last night at 36%, with whites showing up at 40%, black moviegoers at 11% and Asian-Americans at 7%.

Today the sequel opens on 3,619 screens. Smile architect Parker Finn is back for the $28 million sequel. The movie stars Aladdin‘s Naomi Scott as a pop star who sees people grinning erratically while on tour.

Cineverse’s surprise Scarer 3 Sector estimates yesterday yielded $1.5 million, -16%, for a first-week return of $26.9 million.

The gradual expansion of the A24 We live in time saw $500K in previews last night while it heads to 955 theaters this weekend. The Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh romantic drama received a 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Fingers crossed, lots of hopes for another romantic comeback at the box office with this film. The John Crowley-directed title currently counts $820K all in the United States, after playing its first weekend in five theaters in NYC and LA, grossing $225.9K.