John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” roared to a loud $4.3 million in previews on Thursday night, while Universal’s new R-rated comedy “Blockers” grossed $1.5 million.
“A Quiet Place” has expectations of an opening in the low $20 million range on a budget of $17 million, with some analysts projecting a debut as high as $26 million that would safely secure its No. 1 status in the weekend box office derby.
The Paramount thriller stars Krasinski and Emily Blunt and follows a family that must leave in silence, otherwise creatures will hunt them. Krasinski also directed the film, which has a score of 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Platinum Dunes, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller, are the film’s producers.
“Blockers” stars Leslie Mann, John Cena and Ike Barinholtz as parents who discover their teenage daughters have a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. The comedy, directed by Kay Cannon, is rated 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Trackers have the film opening in the high teens, with hopes of a strong multiple as the film will provide theaters with a female-focused comedy at a time when cineplexes are filled with big action films aimed at men. It was produced for $20 million.
Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One,” meanwhile, hopes to keep its momentum going by holding its second weekend drop to less than 50 percent.
That would mean a result of more than $20 million, which could present a challenge to holding the No. 1 spot if “A Quiet Place” comes in at the high end of expectations.
The Warner Bros. film currently has a domestic total of $59 million.