Clayface earned an estimated $3.5 million or more in Thursday previews, according to Mezha, which attributes the figure to Deadline and distribution sources. More preview numbers are expected Friday morning.
The report puts the weekend forecast at $20 million to $25 million. Other forecasts differ: Box Office Pro projected $25 million to $30 million on October 21, while Box Office Theory forecast $15 million to $23 million the same day.
Mezha lists comparable preview-to-opening runs: Birds of Prey took $4 million in previews and opened to $33 million, Other Mommy took $3.6 million and opened to $27.8 million, Smile took $2 million and opened to $22.6 million, and Kraven the Hunter took $2 million and opened to $11 million. Digger took $1.2 million in previews and opened to $8 million (see Digger Opens With $8 Million in Fifth Place).
Clayface carries a net production cost of $44 million before prints and advertising, per the report, and was shot in the UK. James Watkins directed from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan. Rotten Tomatoes shows a 76% Certified Fresh critics’ score, ahead of The Flash (63%) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (49%) and close to Birds of Prey (79%), according to the same report.
The film faces A24’s You Can See Everything, which opened to $15.6 million last weekend and expands to more than 2,500 screens on Friday, per Box Office Pro. That outlet projects $15 million to $20 million for A24’s film in its second weekend. Street Fighter, which opened to $30.77 million, is projected at $8 million to $13 million in week two (see Street Fighter Wins the Box Office With a $31 Million Opening). Mezha reports about $1 million in previews for Wildwood, and Box Office Theory forecasts $4.5 million to $8.5 million for Wicker.
Related reading: Is Batman in Clayface? What Is Known as the Film Opens, Clayface: How DC Is Using Body Horror to Reshape the Comic Book Movie and Who is Clayface?