Clayface opens at No. 1 with $24M; Holmes documentary second with $19.5M
DC's horror film Clayface topped the North American box office on its opening weekend with $24 million, ahead of A24's Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything at $19.5 million in its second weekend.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Clayface, a body-horror film from DC based on the Batman villain, opened at No. 1 in North America with $24 million. IndieWireLC ““Clayface,” a body-horror film based on a little-known comic book, opened to $24 million” Read at IndieWire ↗ The IndependentLC “sat comfortably at No. 1 on its debut weekend, taking in $24 million from 3,458 North American theaters” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1A24's documentary You Can See Everything, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, was second with $19.5 million in its second weekend, expanding to 2,655 venues; The Independent put its domestic total at $45 million. The IndependentLC “collected an impressive $19.5 million while expanding to 2,655 venues on its second weekend”“So far, the movie has made $45 million in total domestically.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1IndieWire said the opening was slightly below projections of $25 million to $30 million, though the film cost a reported $44 million, cheaper than most comic book films. IndieWireLC “it’s slightly below projections, which predicted that “Clayface” would open to between $25 million to $30 million.”“carrying a price tag of $44 million” Read at IndieWire ↗
Centre · 1Deadline reported a worldwide opening of $43 million, including $19 million from 76 territories abroad, against a hoped-for $45 million, and called it solid for a film with a net cost of $44 million. DeadlineN “Though the global opening here for Clayface is under the $45M hoped for, it’s still solid for the net $44M costing feature”“Clayface here was $19M from 76 territories” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline framed it as the second straight No. 1 global weekend for the combined Paramount-Warner Bros. (Skydance) since the merger. DeadlineN “saw its second back-to-back No. 1 weekend win at the global box office with DC’s Clayface” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline said You Can See Everything does not open abroad until Nov. 12 in Australia and Nov. 20 in the UK, and that Palace Cinemas in Australia reported its biggest single day of presales ever. DeadlineN “doesn’t start opening abroad until Nov. 12 in Australia, followed by UK on Nov. 20 via A24”“Palace Cinemas in Australia just broke the record for their biggest single day of presales ever” Read at Deadline ↗
Left · 1The Independent said the documentary, about the Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, is the highest-grossing nonmusical documentary since Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004, with overwhelmingly positive reviews and some commentators predicting a best picture nomination. The IndependentLC “is the highest-grossing nonmusical documentary since Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004”“Some commentators are predicting that it could become the first documentary to ever score a best picture nomination at the Oscars.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 2Clayface follows Supergirl, which IndieWire called a disaster that lost an estimated $80 million to $120 million; The Independent said it took $126 million worldwide in July. Clayface stands at 75% on Rotten Tomatoes against Supergirl's 52%. IndieWireLC ““Supergirl” was a disaster, losing an estimated $80 million to $120 million.”“It stands at 75% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes” Read at IndieWire ↗ The IndependentLC “taking in $126 million worldwide against production marketing costs of at least $270 million” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Laika's Wildwood was third in North America with about $11 million, and Wicker took about $6 million, according to The Independent; Deadline gave Wildwood $11.3 million domestically and $14.3 million worldwide. The IndependentLC “The movie debuted at $11 million this weekend” Read at The Independent ↗ DeadlineN “Laika’s stop motion animated pic Wildwood minted $11.3M stateside” Read at Deadline ↗
Centre · 1Deadline said Street Fighter took $16.8 million worldwide in its second weekend, second globally, dropping 72% in North America to $8.6 million. DeadlineN “second frame of Legendary/Capcom’s Street Fighter with $16.8M WW”“North America hit the ground with a -72% plummet of $8.6M” Read at Deadline ↗ Left · 1IndieWire said DC's run under James Gunn and Peter Safran has been mixed, with Superman earning $618.7 million globally, and that Clayface may count as a modest win; upcoming titles include Man of Tomorrow next summer and The Batman: Part II in 2028. IndieWireLC “It earned $618.7 million globally and was widely embraced by critics.”““Clayface” may count as a win, modest though its victory may be.”““The Batman: Part II” will open in theaters in 2028” Read at IndieWire ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left3 outlets
- Framing
- IndieWire treats the result as a verdict on the DC Studios reboot under Gunn and Safran; The Independent leads with the Holmes documentary rivalling Clayface.
- Emphasis
- DC's track record (Supergirl flop, Superman hit), Marvel's struggles, the documentary's record-breaking run and Oscar talk.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither gives the worldwide opening figure or the foreign breakdown that Deadline reports.
- Charged language
- “middling”“disaster”“critical drubbing”“impressive”
- For example
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“a middling result for DC Studios, which is in year two of its mixed-bag theatrical revival” — IndieWire
“gave DC Universe’s Clayface a run for its money at the box office this weekend” — The Independent
Centre3 outlets
- Framing
- Deadline frames it as a studio-business story: the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger's second consecutive global No. 1.
- Emphasis
- Global and territory-by-territory grosses, comparisons with other horror openings, and the weekend's other releases.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no domestic gross for You Can See Everything and little on DC's broader record or critical reception.
- Charged language
- “Beams”“Should the platinum studio Disney be worried?”
- For example
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“Is this the new norm? A continual weekend win by Skydance? Should the platinum studio Disney be worried?” — Deadline
Right1 outlet
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Clayface opened at No. 1 in North America with $24 million.
- You Can See Everything, from A24, was second in its second weekend.
- The Clayface opening was described as modest or below hopes, though not a failure.
Where accounts differ
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How to read Clayface's opening
- Left
- IndieWire calls it middling and slightly below projections but not a money-loser; The Independent calls it modest but a likely relief for DC.
- Centre
- Deadline calls the $43M global start under the $45M hoped for but solid, citing strong audience exits.
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Clayface opened at No. 1 in North America with about $24 million.
Supported- Supports 3
- IndieWire, The Independent, Deadline
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You Can See Everything took $19.5 million in its second weekend, finishing second behind Clayface.
Supported- Supports 2
- IndieWire, The Independent
- Reports 1
- Deadline
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Clayface's opening was modest or somewhat below expectations.
Supported- Supports 3
- IndieWire, The Independent, Deadline
DC Studios organisation
Coverage presents DC Studios as seeking recovery after Supergirl, with Clayface a modest step forward; Deadline reports Gunn and Safran reacting with fright to the film.
“James Gunn and Peter Safran were brought in to revitalize the comic book brand with mixed results.” — IndieWire
“DC Bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran reportedly covered their faces after watching Clayface for the first time” — Deadline
Paramount Skydance organisation
Deadline presents the merged Paramount-Warner Bros. as on a winning streak at the global box office.
“saw its second back-to-back No. 1 weekend win at the global box office” — Deadline
You Can See Everything other
Presented as a surprise hit that is defying expectations, with positive reviews and strong presales abroad.
“again defying box office expectations” — The Independent
“doubling their previous record held by Taylor Swift: Eras Tour” — Deadline
Left4 articles
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IndieWireLC · · Opinion
‘Clayface’ Tops the Box Office with $24 Million. What Does It Signal About DC Studios Latest Reboot?
Mixed Opinion-style analysis of what a modest Clayface opening says about DC's reboot.
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Elizabeth Holmes doc You Can See Everything rivals Clayface at box office with huge takings
Sympathetic Leads on the documentary's strong run and near-rivalry with Clayface.
Centre5 articles
Show 1 moreShow fewer
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Celebratory Trade report celebrating the merged studio's winning streak, with detailed global numbers.
- 25 Oct 11:51 First National PostRC Who is Nathan Fielder? The Canadian filmmaker behind new Elizabeth Homes documentary
- 25 Oct 13:48 +1h 57m IndieWireLC Box Office: A24’s ‘You Can See Everything’ Scores Huge $19.5 Million Second Weekend
- 25 Oct 15:13 +3h 22m VarietyLC Box Office: ‘You Can See Everything’ Scores $19.5 Million in Huge Second Weekend, ‘Clayface’ Leads With $24 Million Debut
- 25 Oct 15:21 +3h 30m Screen RantN Box Office: Clayface Snags #1 In U.S. After Heated Battle With 98% RT Doc
- 25 Oct 15:30 +3h 39m ColliderN A24’s 3-Hour Viral Sensation Is Officially Becoming a Box Office Monster
- 25 Oct 15:35 +3h 44m Screen RantN Clayface Box Office Global Debut Puts DCU Horror Movie On The Right Track
- 25 Oct 16:00 +4h 9m ColliderN DC’s First Horror Movie Officially Breaks Franchise's Box Office Slump
- 25 Oct 16:36 +4h 45m IndieWireLC ‘Clayface’ Tops the Box Office with $24 Million. What Does It Signal About DC Studios Latest Reboot? Opinion
- 25 Oct 18:15 +6h 24m DeadlineN ‘Clayface’ Beams $43M WW Opening, Delivers Paramount-Warner Bros. Second No. 1 Weekend Win Since Merger – Global Box Office
- 25 Oct 19:46 +7h 55m The IndependentLC Elizabeth Holmes doc You Can See Everything rivals Clayface at box office with huge takings
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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