Yahoo Lifestyle Box Office: Hugh Grant’s ‘Heretic’ Makes $1.2 Million in Previews
Halloween may be over, but the scares keep on coming.
A24 and Hugh Grant’s new horror movie “Heretic” is launching at the box office this weekend, and it’s made $1.2 million so far in Thursday previews.
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It will go up against Sony’s superhero threequel “Venom: The Last Dance,” which has reigned over the box office for the past two weeks. The Tom Hardy-led action movie is aiming to make around $13 million to $15 million in its third frame, which would be a 40%-50% from last weekend. “Heretic” is on track to open with $8 million to $10 million, so it will likely have to settle for second place.
“When two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attempt to convert a reclusive Englishman, it turns out to be far more dangerous than they could have expected,” reads the plot description for “Heretic.” Grant stars as the creepy Mr. Reed, who takes the two young women, played by “Yellowjackets” star Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, prisoner in his home.
A24 promoted “Heretic” with some unique marketing and hosted special blueberry pie-scented screenings in advance at select theaters. As teased in the trailer, the two missionaries are not allowed to enter Mr. Reed’s home without another woman present, but he assures them his wife is home and baking a blueberry pie. When the women enter, they slowly realize things aren’t as they seem when they notice a blueberry-scented candle burning in the living room.
Also opening this weekend is Lionsgate’s faith-based family film “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” which is aiming for $6 million to $8 million in its opening. It made $500,000 in Thursday previews.
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