Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Smile

  • From DC to Horror: Walter Hamada Makes Deal with Paramount

    From DC to Horror: Walter Hamada Makes Deal with Paramount

    Walter Hamada is a name many might recall as a big part of the post-Justice League era of DC Films. While the studio has been renamed DC Studios with new leadership under Peter Safran and long-time superhero director James Gunn, the producer fought his way uphill on trying to set a plan for DC’s future. Under new leadership with Warner Bros. Discovery, he left the studio and many wondered where he’d show up again. As it turns out, he went on to return to his horror roots.

    In a new report by The Hollywood reporter, he has signed on as of January 1st, 2023 to oversee Paramount’s horror line-up. After their recent success with Smile, it’s no wonder that they want to bank on the current rise of horror projects and Hamada is no stranger to the task. His mandate is to set a bunch of mid-budget horror films not only for theatrical release but also eyeing a streaming release every year. Not a small undertaking to boost their horror output.

    I am thrilled to collaborate with Paramount Pictures with the singular goal of creating exceptional movies in the horror genre. Over the course of my career, nothing has been more gratifying than discovering emerging, first-time filmmakers and writers and unleashing their brilliance in a studio setting. Thank you to Brian and the entire team at Paramount Pictures for this tremendous opportunity, I can’t wait to get started.

    Walter Hamada

    Paramount Pictures CEO Brain Robbins also highlighted the “tremendous appetite for original, high-concept storytelling in the global market” and is quite excited to build this new horror corner of its studio.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Smile’ Surpasses $100 Million at Worldwide Box Office

    ‘Smile’ Surpasses $100 Million at Worldwide Box Office

    Paramount has plenty to Smile about these days. Its latest horror release, Smile, has officially passed the $100 million mark at the box office. In two weeks of release, the film has managed to earn $102.3 million worldwide; that’s with $55.5 million at the domestic box office and $46.8 million from the international box office.

    While most films often suffer a sophomore slump, Smile has continued to have an impressive hold at the box office. In its second weekend, the film retained the top spot with $13 million. That was enough to earn the movie the second-best hold ever for an R-rated horror movie in its second weekend, with a drop of just -22%.

    Noting the film’s accomplishments at the box office, Brian Robbins, the CEO and President of Paramount Pictures, noted the studio always believed the movie had cinematic potential. “The moment we saw this film we knew it had immense cinematic potential, and we’re beyond thrilled and proud to see that audiences around the world agree wholeheartedly and are turning out in record numbers,” he said. “Thank you to our director, Parker Finn, our creative partners and our production team for delivering a fantastically terrifying movie; and thank you to our global marketing and distributions teams for hitting it out of the park once again.”

    Directed by newcomer Parker Finn, Smile stars Sosie Bacon and focuses on a therapist who meets a graduate student that has recently witnessed a gruesome suicide. Soon after, she begins experiencing frightening experiences she can’t explain. In order to survive, she’ll need to confront her past in order to escape her horrifying new reality. The film also stars Caitlin Stasey, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert and Kal Penn.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Smile’ Aiming for $13+ Million Second Weekend

    ‘Smile’ Aiming for $13+ Million Second Weekend

    Paramount’s Smile looks set to take the top spot at the box office for its second weekend. The horror flick is currently on track for at least $13 million in its second weekend following $3.85 million in sales on Friday.

    Directed by newcomer Parker Finn, Smile pulled in an impressive $22 million in its opening weekend. A feat made all the more impressive considering the film had a modest budget of $17 million. Smile stars Sosie Bacon and focuses on a therapist who meets a graduate student that has recently witnessed a gruesome suicide. Soon after, she begins experiencing frightening experiences she can’t explain. In order to survive, she’ll need to confront her past in order to escape her horrifying new reality. The film also stars Caitlin Stasey, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert and Kal Penn.

    Should estimates hold, Smile’s $13 million second weekend will be enough to hold off newcomer, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, from Sony. That film is currently on track for an $11 million opening across 4,350 theaters. It’s an adaptation of the 1965 Bernard Waber book that tells the story of a Crocodile named Lyle that happily lives with the Primm family in New York City, until a neighbor tries to send him to a zoo. The film stars Javier Bardem and singer Shawn Mendes.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Smile’ Surprises With $22 Million Opening, ‘Bros’ Stumbles

    ‘Smile’ Surprises With $22 Million Opening, ‘Bros’ Stumbles

    Paramount’s latest offering put a smile on the faces of moviegoers this weekend. Smile, directed by newcomer Parker Finn, pulled in an impressive $22 million over the weekend. The movie earned $8.2 million on Friday, which includes the $2 million the movie pulled in from Thursday previews. Smile‘s performance is all the more impressive considering the film had a modest budget of $17 million.

    Smile, which stars Sosie Bacon, focuses on a therapist who meets a graduate student that has recently witnessed a gruesome suicide. Soon after, she begins experiencing frightening experiences she can’t explain. In order to survive, she’ll need to confront her past in order to escape her horrifying new reality. The film also stars Caitlin Stasey, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert and Kal Penn.

    The only other new release this weekend, Bros, failed to take off at the box office. The movie took in $4.8 million this weekend, well under expectations for the film. Smile managed to come in fourth place, beneath Don’t Worry Darling and The Woman King. The former, of course, took in $7.3 in its second weekend, bringing its 10-day domestic haul to $32.8 million. While the latter, The Woman King, came in third with $7 million from 3,504 cinemas, bringing its domestic haul to $47 million. Coming in fifth was the Avatar re-release which took in $4.7 million from 1,860 theaters for a 10-day domestic total of $18.1 million.

    Source: THR.