Movie theaters haven’t exactly been bustling since the start of 2025 and the calendar year is about to turn in one of its most meagre frames yet. Even with two new wide releases - Paramount’s slapstick actioner “Novocaine” and Focus Features’ spy film “Black Bag” - exhibitors are in danger of a particularly beleaguered weekend,

Wait, wasn’t the impact from the strikes last year? If 2025 is going to be known for anything, it’s which weekend is the lowest at the box office. With Paramount’s new wide entry Novocaine and Warner Bros’ Mickey 17 doing about $8M each (many believe the Jack Quaid movie has the edge),

The Jack Quaid-led action comedy "Novocaine" will vie with last weekend's champion "Mickey 17" for the top spot on box office charts.

Thank, God, for Snow White next weekend, right? Who knew with that movie’s controversy we’d be saying that!? However, the industry should be thankful. If Snow White pulls off a $50M+ opening, that’s a respectable bump for what is a barren desert of a business right now.

Paramount's "Novocaine" is off to a good start at the box office with an estimated $8.5 million opening weekend from 3,365 theaters, but the bigger problem for exhibitors is that the marketplace is in such a terrible slump that this is enough for the gory action comedy to take No.

"Mickey 17" was No. 1 at the domestic box office with $18 million but the $118 million film will struggle to turn a profit.