Other Mommy is heading for No. 1 at the domestic box office. After earning about $13 million on Friday, previews included, from 3,365 screens, the supernatural horror film is projected to open around $28 million, according to TheWrap's weekend report. Variety's earlier Friday tally was slightly lower, at $12.6 million.
The film comes from Universal and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and is based on Josh Malerman's novel. It follows an eight-year-old girl and a sinister figure she calls her "Other Mommy." It reportedly cost about $19 million to make, a modest budget for a wide horror release.
Reception is the concern. The film holds a 20% critics score and a 47% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and opening-night audiences gave it a D+ CinemaScore. A grade that low often points to weak word of mouth, which can lead to a steep drop in the second weekend. TheWrap still expects the film to reach break-even by the end of its run.
The Rest of the Chart
- Verity: about $12.5 million in its second weekend, down 61%, for a ten-day total near $54.8 million against a $40 million budget.
- Angel and the Badman: about $2.4 million from 2,263 locations, with a 23% critics score and a B+ CinemaScore.
TheWrap notes that total weekend estimates are on track to come in below $90 million, the second straight soft weekend for new releases. These are early estimates based on Friday, and final numbers arrive on Monday.