‘Other Mommy’ Nips ‘Verity’ in Photo Finish for U.K., Ireland Box Office Summit

Universal’s horror entry “Other Mommy,” directed by Rob Savage and starring Jessica Chastain and Jay Duplass, squeaked to the top of the U.K. and Ireland box office in a dead heat, debuting at No. 1 with £1.97 million ($2.66 million).

The horror debut narrowly edged Sony’s psychological thriller “Verity,” which moved to second place in its sophomore session by a razor-thin margin of just £33,263 ($43,970), collecting £1.94 million ($2.62 million). The Colleen Hoover adaptation lifted its running cume to £7.3 million ($9.8 million).

Paramount’s action thriller “Heart of the Beast,” starring Brad Pitt and J.K. Simmons, held third position in its third frame with $1.1 million, elevating its gross to $7.3 million. Sony’s franchise reboot “Resident Evil” took fourth spot in its fourth session, generating $1 million to advance its total to $17.1 million. Sony also claimed fifth position with the debut of Aaron Sorkin’s political drama “The Social Reckoning,” which collected $840,538.

Universal’s “Sense and Sensibility” followed in sixth place during its third weekend, adding $797,038 for a running total of $6.8 million. Entertainment Film Distributors’ historical drama “The Uprising,” directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Andrew Garfield, opened in seventh position with $732,547.

Studiocanal’s animated feature “Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom” landed in eighth place in its fourth session, collecting $665,849 to raise its total to $5.1 million. Warner Bros.’ Tom Cruise film “Digger” took ninth position in its sophomore frame, taking $661,819 to bring its cume to $3 million. Universal’s “The Odyssey,” directed by Christopher Nolan, rounded out the top 10 in its 13th week on release, adding $353,321 to push its cumulative gross to $118.3 million.

Looking ahead to the upcoming theatrical frame, Monday saw Trafalgar Releasing launching music documentary “Always Lalisa,” followed on Tuesday by Cinematik presenting “ENB: The Sleeping Beauty” across 100+ locations.

Wide commercial and saturation rollouts on Friday opening across 300+ locations are led by Disney’s survival thriller “Whalefall,” directed by Brian Duffield and starring Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin; Icon Film Distribution’s found-footage horror “The Influencer Project,” starring Chiara King; and Trafalgar Releasing’s filmed stage capture of “Hadestown: The Musical,” starring Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada. Paramount is also rolling out “Street Fighter”.

Mid-tier and platform releases across 100+ locations include Universal’s animated feature “Forgotten Island,” directed by Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado, and Anime Ltd.’s anime re-release “Arrietty,” featuring voice work from Saoirse Ronan and Tom Holland.

Specialized, festival, and international titles arriving Friday include Conic’s drama “Case 137,” directed by Dominik Moll, across 25+ screens; Soilsiu Films’ documentary “Forever Is Now,” directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin, across 25+ sites; DOVC U.K.’s “Deadline,” directed by Kiwi Chow across 25+ screens; Central City Media’s “It’s My Time,” directed by Xue Bai and starring Michelle Yeoh across 25+ locations; Bulldog Film Distribution’s “By Design,” directed by Amanda Kramer and starring Juliette Lewis; Signature Entertainment’s “Winter of the Crow”; Exposure’s “Mistura”; Dogwoof’s “Naza”; and Bakrania Media’s “Prahaar.”

Repertory and archival screenings are highlighted by Hammer and Icon Film Distribution launching Terence Fisher’s classic “Dracula” in a 4K restoration across 100+ screens, alongside Park Circus’ 25th anniversary 4K restoration of Alejandro Amenábar’s “The Others,” starring Nicole Kidman, across 100+ locations. The frame concludes on Saturday with Trafalgar Releasing’s live event cinema broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s “Macbeth”.