‘Novocaine’ Numbs ‘Mickey 17’ for Top Spot on Opening Day

Ah, the mystery and glamour of the Hollywood box office! Is it just me or does it feel like 2025 is giving us a plot twist nobody asked for? 🎬

Picture this: a weekend so quiet, you could hear a popcorn kernel drop. Even with the debut of Paramount’s slapstick escapade "Novocaine" and Focus Features’ espionage thriller "Black Bag," there’s a palpable hush over movie theaters. It’s almost like the movies decided to take a nap instead of raking in the big bucks.

Let’s rewind to February 2024 for a second. Remember Apple’s ambitious "Argylle"? Yeah, neither does anyone else. That was the last time a weekend gross was this low. But hey, hope springs eternal, or so they say. What do you think, “Dog Man”? With your $13 million lead back then, you seemed unbeatable. Fast forward to now, and we’re looking at a potentially even more dismal scene. 📉

“Novocaine” is inching its way to the top spot, but with “Black Bag” and last week’s “Mickey 17” hot on its trail, it’s anyone’s guess. Jack Quaid kicks some serious butt in “Novocaine,” but can he kick the box office into gear? With $3.9 million from initial screenings, it’s aiming for an $8.5 million weekend. Not quite the $10 million it hoped for, but hey, every cloud has a silver lining, right? 🌥️

And about that $18 million budget – Paramount, honey, you’ve seen bigger risks, I’m sure. Mixed reviews with a “B” Cinema Score? Well, at least it’s not a total flop. Meanwhile, “Black Bag” is trying to sneak into third place, boasting a celebrity filled cast including Cate Blanchett and Pierce Brosnan. Despite a $50 million price tag and some of Soderbergh’s best reviews, it’s still stuck with a “B” from Cinema Score. Maybe international audiences will prove more generous? 🤞

Poor “Mickey 17.” After debuting at No. 1, it’s plummeting to second place with just $2.2 million on Friday. A 60% drop? Ouch. That $118 million investment looks less like a gamble and more like a misstep. Perhaps the universe just isn’t ready for interplanetary comedy. 🌌

Disney’s “Captain America: Brave New World” is still holding on, albeit loosely. With a $181.4 million domestic total, it’s finishing its run with a whimper rather than a bang. Sorry, Cap. Better luck with “Thunderbolts” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” next summer. 🦸‍♂️

Rounding out the top five, we have “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” originally destined for HBO Max. It’s pulling in around $1 million and hoping to hit $3 million this weekend. Positive reviews and a “B+” Cinema Score? Well, Bugs Bunny always did have a knack for survival. 🐰

“The Last Supper” — not to be confused with the upcoming “The Chosen: Last Supper” — also made its entrance, earning $1 million on its opening day. With an “A-” Cinema Score, it might just manage to break into the top five. 🍽️

And then there’s “Opus,” A24’s latest horror-comedy with a budget under $10 million. Despite a less-than-warm Sundance reception and a “C+” Cinema Score, it’s still trying to break the $1 million mark. Ayo Edebiri, here’s hoping your star power can conjure some box office magic. ✨

Moral of the Story: In Hollywood, even when the plot goes awry, there’s always a sequel waiting to happen. Keep the popcorn ready, folks! 🍿