Four new films are arriving in North American theatres this weekend, with Street Fighter expected to lead the box office race. The new releases also include A24’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything, the survival thriller Whalefall and a fresh adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Opening-weekend projections suggest that the four films will appeal to different audiences, with Street Fighter positioned to deliver the strongest debut.
Paramount Pictures is releasing Street Fighter in more than 3,500 North American theatres on Friday, October 16. According to studio projections reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the video game adaptation is expected to earn in the mid-$30 million range domestically, with a similar amount projected internationally.
Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film has a reported production budget of $82 million, shared equally between Legendary Pictures and Capcom. Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji and Callina Liang lead the cast in the latest adaptation of Capcom’s fighting game franchise, which launched in 1987.
The film enters its opening weekend amid a mixed critical response. The Hollywood Reporter described it as a “jumbled tonal mess” in its review, raising questions about whether the critical reception could affect audience interest. Its commercial performance will provide an early indication of how the franchise’s latest cinematic outing connects with moviegoers.
20th Century Studios is releasing Whalefall in 3,065 North American locations. The survival thriller is projected to earn between $10 million and $12 million domestically during its opening weekend, against a reported production budget of $60 million.
Directed by Brian Duffield, the film adapts Daniel Kraus’ 2023 novel. Austin Abrams stars as a scuba diver searching for the remains of his late father, played by Josh Brolin. His mission takes a terrifying turn when he is swallowed by a sperm whale and must find a way to survive.
The film has received a more encouraging critical response than Street Fighter. The Hollywood Reporter reported a 70% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of publication. However, critic David Rooney felt that the thriller did not fully embrace the outrageous potential of its premise. Its opening will test whether the unusual survival story can attract audiences beyond its initial appeal.
A24 is looking to draw moviegoers with You Can See Everything, a documentary examining Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in the period leading up to the start of her prison sentence.
Directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, the documentary is opening in approximately 800 North American theatres. With a reported production budget of $5 million, it is projected to earn around $7 million domestically during its opening weekend. The forecast would put its opening gross above its reported production budget, although theatrical revenue alone does not determine a film’s overall profitability.
The documentary has received strong early reviews. The Hollywood Reporter critic Angie Han described it as “smart, funny and full of surprises,” while the publication reported a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of its article. The limited theatrical rollout and positive reviews could help the film attract audiences interested in the story behind the Theranos scandal.
Focus Features is releasing Sense and Sensibility in 2,436 North American theatres. The studio’s opening-weekend projection is reported as being in the $20 million range, although the precise forecast requires confirmation.
Directed by Georgia Oakley, the film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as the Dashwood sisters, who face an uncertain future following their father’s death. The story follows their efforts to navigate changing circumstances, family expectations and relationships.
The new adaptation follows Ang Lee’s acclaimed 1995 version, starring Emma Thompson, which won an Academy Award. Oakley’s interpretation brings Austen’s novel to the screen with a new cast and creative approach, offering audiences another cinematic take on the enduring period drama.
With Street Fighter positioned as the weekend’s leading contender, the final box office results will reveal how closely the newcomers match their opening projections. Whalefall will look to turn its high-concept survival premise into ticket sales, while You Can See Everything will attempt to translate strong early reviews into audience interest. Sense and Sensibility, meanwhile, will target viewers drawn to literary adaptations and period drama.
The weekend’s results will offer an early comparison of four distinct release strategies: a major video game adaptation, a survival thriller, a documentary opening in a more limited number of theatres and a new version of a literary classic.
