‘Other Mommy,’ ‘Social Reckoning’ Struggle as Box Office Slows Down

Two major new releases, "Other Mommy" and "The Social Reckoning," are struggling at the box office this weekend, with attendance and critical reception lagging behind expectations. "Other Mommy" debuted to a $13 million opening day from 3,365 screens, but it has received poor reviews, scoring 20% from critics, 47% from audiences, and a D+ on CinemaScore.

The film's $19 million budget should clear its break-even point by its theatrical run's end, but this weak reception could hinder its momentum and affect weekend and Sunday showings, potentially reducing Monday's actual total to closer to $20 million.

On the other hand, "The Social Reckoning" is generating significantly lower numbers, earning $2.1 million from 2,606 locations on Friday for a $6 million opening weekend. This is less than a third of the $22.4 million that its Oscar-winning predecessor, "The Social Network," earned in 2010, adjusted for inflation. Despite its lower budget of $30 million, "The Social Reckoning" faces an uphill battle.

The movie confronts the sensitive topic of Facebook's role in the January 6 riots, attempting to generate interest among audiences who may not be inclined to engage with current events and political issues in films. This trend is echoed by other wide releases, such as "Digger," starring Tom Cruise and Alejandro G. Inarritu, which is on track for a second weekend with $3 million, totaling $14 million over 10 days.

Last weekend's top film, Amazon MGM's "Verity," has dropped 61% to $12.5 million, bringing its 10-day total to $54.8 million. Additionally, Angel's "Angel and the Badman" opened to just $2.4 million from 2,263 locations. The western drama stars Tommy Lee Jones and Zachary Levi and carries a 23% Rotten Tomatoes critics score and a B+ on CinemaScore.