DC's Cheapest Bet Pays Off as Clayface Claims the Weekend
Warner Bros. scored a modest but meaningful win this weekend as Clayface, the body-horror origin story of the Batman supervillain, debuted at No. 1 at the North American box office. The film grossed $10.4 million on Friday from 3,458 theaters and is projected to finish the weekend with around $24 million domestically — just under the studio's initial projection of $25 million to $30 million [1][2].
The result carries particular weight for DC Studios, which is still recovering from a bruising summer. Supergirl opened to just $37.1 million domestically on a $170 million budget and was widely considered a bomb [2]. By contrast, Clayface cost only $44 million to produce, making a $24 million opening weekend a far more comfortable return [1]. For context, last year's Superman, produced for nearly $230 million, ultimately grossed $618.72 million worldwide — a different scale of ambition entirely [1].
Directed by James Watkins, the film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a rising movie star who volunteers for an experimental medical procedure after his face is severely disfigured. Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, and Eddie Marsan round out the cast [1]. Audiences responded warmly, giving the film an A- CinemaScore, while critics awarded it a 76 on Rotten Tomatoes — with audience scores reaching 94 [2].
Variety's Guy Lodge described the film as "its own ugly animal; perhaps the characters and conflicts introduced here would pall if given the franchise treatment, but in the context of a single, genre-melding romp, they're fresh and ickily enjoyable." [1] The Hollywood Reporter's Frank Scheck called it "a big swing that definitely pays off." [2]
Holmes Documentary Builds Awards Momentum in Second Weekend
Landing in second place was A24's You Can See Everything, the Elizabeth Holmes documentary that has quickly become one of the year's most talked-about releases. The film earned $6.14 million on Friday from 2,655 theaters — a dramatic expansion from its 855-theater opening — and is projected to add roughly $20 million by Sunday, bringing its domestic cumulative gross to approximately $51.7 million [1][2].
The film's opening weekend already made history: its $15 million debut from fewer than 1,000 theaters was the highest-grossing launch for a sub-1,000-theater release since Borat in 2006 [2]. Made quietly over more than three years by comedian Nathan Fielder and Primetime filmmaker Lance Oppenheim, the documentary offers what sources describe as an "unhinged" portrait of the Theranos founder, filmed approximately one month before she began serving an 11-year prison sentence for defrauding investors [1].
A24 is positioning the film aggressively for awards season, submitting it across virtually every category at the 99th Academy Awards — including best picture, director, cinematography, costume design, and original score, in addition to the expected best documentary feature category [1].
Laika's Wildwood Earns Strong Reviews in Third Place
Laika's Wildwood, the stop-motion animated feature directed by Travis Knight, opened in third place with $4.28 million on Friday from 2,942 theaters, tracking toward an $11.2 million opening weekend [1]. The film follows a teenage girl who ventures into an enchanted forest to rescue her abducted brother, with a voice cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Jacob Tremblay, and Peyton Elizabeth Lee [1][2].
The film carries a substantial $100 million price tag — a significant investment for a stop-motion production — but strong reviews may help sustain it at the box office [1]. It holds a perfect 100 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned an A CinemaScore from audiences [2]. THR's Frank Scheck called it "stupendous in every aspect." [2]
Wicker and Street Fighter Round Out the Top Five
In fourth place, Black Bear's Wicker — an offbeat romantic fantasy directed by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer — earned $2.36 million on Friday from 1,471 theaters, targeting a $5.5 million opening weekend [1][2]. The film stars Olivia Colman as an ostracized fisherwoman who commissions a husband from the local basketmaker, played by Peter Dinklage, with Alexander Skarsgård as the wicker husband himself. Elizabeth Debicki also stars [1]. THR's Richard Lawson praised its "winning mix of irreverence and compassion," and the film holds a 94 score on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences [2].
Legendary Entertainment's Street Fighter, last weekend's box office winner, fell sharply in its second frame. The film is expected to gross around $8.4 million this weekend — a roughly 73 percent decline — bringing its domestic cumulative total to $46.7 million [2]. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the adaptation of the Capcom video game stars Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, and Callina Liang [1][2].
Smaller Releases and What to Watch
Opening quietly this weekend, Taika Waititi's Klara and the Sun — an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams — debuted in 880 theaters and made just $300,000 on Friday, projecting to roughly $725,000 for the weekend [2]. THR's chief film critic David Rooney called it a "wretched mess." [2] Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G: Who Iz I? also opened in just 125 theaters for a limited two-day run ahead of its Prime Video debut [2].
Looking ahead, the key question is whether Clayface can hold well enough in its second weekend to justify further DC Studios investment in lower-budget, character-driven genre films — and whether You Can See Everything can sustain its remarkable momentum deep into awards season.
