DC Studios' R-rated horror film Clayface and A24's expanding documentary You Can See Everything are locked in a close contest for the top spot at the North American box office during the October 23–25 weekend. Following its wide theatrical release on Friday, October 23, 2026, the Warner Bros. Pictures comic book adaptation pulled in an estimated $3.5 million from Thursday previews that began at 2 p.m., setting up an unusual showdown against a three-hour nonfiction release about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.

While early Friday estimates give the DC villain standalone movie a slight edge, rapid theater expansion and sustained audience turnout for You Can See Everything have kept industry projections tight. With only Friday estimates and competing studio forecasts available, the final weekend ranking remains undecided as both titles draw distinct theatrical crowds across North America.

Competing Projections for DC's Horror Pivot

Directed by James Watkins and starring Tom Rhys Harries, Clayface centers on rising Hollywood actor Matt Hagen, whose life spirals after severe facial disfigurement leads him to an experimental scientific treatment with monstrous consequences. Playing in 3,458 North American locations after beginning its international rollout on October 21,according to DC.com, the film represents DC Studios' first R-rated body-horror entry.

Industry tracking shows differing expectations for the superhero horror title's debut frame. According to Deadline, Friday's opening day gross reached an estimated $9.5 million (including the $3.5 million in Thursday previews), putting the movie on track for a $23 million to $25 million domestic weekend—up slightly from Thursday's initial $20 million to $25 million projection. Meanwhile, Koimoi noted some tracking models placed Friday's opening day between $10 million and $12 million. In contrast, Variety cited a higher domestic weekend projection of $25 million to $35 million, while noting rival studio estimates hovered between $22 million and $28 million.

Those preview and tracking figures place the film ahead of recent comic book misfires and alongside notable October genre releases. As noted by AOL.com, the $3.5 million Thursday preview haul easily cleared the $2 million preview take of Kraven the Hunter (which opened to $11 million) and approached the $4 million preview figure of DC's Birds of Prey (which debuted to $33 million). Full-weekend projections also align the film with mid-October horror performers such as Smile ($22.6 million opening) and Black Phone 2 ($27.2 million opening).

Reception among initial ticket buyers has been unusually high for an R-rated body-horror release. The movie earned an A- grade on CinemaScore, matching previous DC releases such as Superman, The Batman, Aquaman, and Man of Steel, and trailing only Wonder Woman and Shazam.

A24's Documentary Expansion Challenges Studio Tentpoles

Standing in the way of a routine studio box office victory is You Can See Everything, a nearly three-hour documentary directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. After a surprise premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September, A24 opened the film across 855 North American screens during the October 16–18 frame. Initially projected to earn between $7 million and $8 million, the movie stunned analysts by grossing between $15 million and $15.6 million in its opening weekend, finishing second only to Paramount's Street Fighter ($30 million from 3,575 screens).

According to the Associated Press and CNN Business, the debut marked the largest opening for a non-music documentary since Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004 (not adjusted for inflation) and the biggest opening on fewer than 1,000 screens since Borat in 2006. It easily outpaced Amazon MGM's first lady documentary Melania, which opened to $7.1 million on roughly twice as many screens earlier this year. A24 reported more than 2,000 sold-out showings during the debut frame, as noted by The New York Times, leading to a first-week domestic cumulative haul of $25.6 million.

For the October 23–25 weekend, A24 expanded the documentary nationwide to roughly 2,600 to 2,655 locations. Just as with Clayface, analysts differ on how high the documentary can climb in its second frame. Variety forecast a $20 million to $25 million second weekend, giving it a direct shot at overtaking Clayface. However, Deadline's Friday update estimated the documentary's Friday take at $5.8 million for a projected $19 million weekend, while Boxoffice Pro previously projected a $15 million to $20 million frame.

Inside the Elizabeth Holmes Phenomenon

The theatrical surge for You Can See Everything stems from its unconventional premise and critical acclaim, currently holding a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4.8 rating on Letterboxd. Filmed secretly in 2023, the project saw Fielder move in with Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, for the 34 days prior to her reporting for an 11-year federal prison sentence following her 2022 conviction on three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

As detailed by Yahoo Entertainment, Holmes and Evans granted camera access in hopes of challenging public scrutiny, though Holmes continues to insist on camera that her failed Theranos blood-testing device worked as promised. Rather than re-litigating the settled court case, Fielder—who appears on camera more than Holmes—examines her relationship with the truth and highlights Evans' controlling presence over her public image. Speaking at a post-screening Q&A in September, Fielder noted that Holmes came across as "so genuine" that he wanted to believe her too, adding, "I know she's a liar."

Production Budgets and Theatrical Profitability

Regardless of which film claims the No. 1 weekend trophy when final actuals are tallied, both releases are positioned for strong financial returns due to disciplined production costs. Unlike massive tentpole releases that require hundreds of millions of dollars to break even, Clayface was produced on a modest budget—reported at $40 million by AOL.com (before marketing and distribution expenses) and $44 million by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.

Alongside its domestic debut, Clayface is projected to earn $20 million to $25 million overseas, putting its global opening weekend forecast between $45 million and $55 million (with Koimoi citing a $50 million worldwide debut estimate). Generating roughly its entire production budget in a single global weekend gives Warner Bros. and DC Studios a straightforward path to theatrical profitability before factoring in international television sales and home entertainment revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Clayface officially win the weekend box office over You Can See Everything?

Not yet. Available figures reflect Thursday preview grosses, Friday opening estimates, and competing weekend projections rather than final weekend actuals. While Friday estimates from Deadline put Clayface ahead ($23 million–$25 million projected) compared to You Can See Everything (roughly $19 million projected), overlapping forecasts from Variety ($20 million–$25 million for the documentary) keep the race open until Sunday estimates and Monday actuals are released.

How much did Clayface cost to make, and what does it need to be profitable?

Clayface carries a reported production budget of $40 million to $44 million before marketing and distribution expenses. Because of this relatively low cost compared to traditional superhero blockbusters, a projected global opening between $45 million and $55 million puts the film well on its way to recovering its theatrical expenses through steady domestic and international ticket sales.

How many theaters are showing You Can See Everything in its second weekend?

Following its initial limited release in 855 North American theaters—where it earned roughly $15 million to $15.6 million and logged over 2,000 sold-out screenings—A24 expanded the documentary to approximately 2,600 to 2,655 locations for the October 23–25 weekend.

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