The action-comedy Novocaine, starring Jack Quaid as a banker who cannot feel pain, debuted at the top of the weekend box office, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations. Despite securing the number-one spot, the film’s opening numbers were underwhelming, marking one of the lowest-grossing debuts for a top performer since the pandemic-era box office slump.
Novocaine, produced by Paramount, raked in an estimated $8.7 million (KSh. 1.1 billion) from Friday to Sunday. While securing first place, its earnings reflect the broader trend of sluggish movie ticket sales, with audiences seemingly reluctant to return to theaters in large numbers.
Slipping to second place was Mickey 17, a sci-fi black comedy directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson. The film earned $7.51 million (KSh. 975 million) over the weekend. Mickey 17 tells the story of a man who volunteers for hazardous space missions and is continuously “reprinted” upon death. The Warner Bros. film also features Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.
Coming in at a close third was Black Bag, a spy thriller helmed by Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh. Starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, the film brought in $7.5 million (KSh. 972 million), just shy of Mickey 17’s earnings.
Marvel and Disney’s Captain America: Brave New World took fourth place with $5.5 million (KSh. 713.1 million). The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), featuring Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America alongside Harrison Ford, has now grossed $185.4 million (KSh. 24 billion) domestically and $203 million (KSh. 26 billion) internationally.
Rounding out the top five was The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, an animated feature starring classic characters Porky Pig and Daffy Duck. The film debuted with a modest $3.2 million.
Despite these new releases, the overall sluggish box office performance raises concerns about the industry’s recovery. With audiences increasingly gravitating toward streaming services and selective theater visits, Hollywood may need to rethink its strategies to revive box office enthusiasm.
