‘Verity’ Box Office Success Fueled by Strong Walkups and Impressive Friday Sales
Hollywood has been keen on Colleen Hoover adaptations ever since 2024’s ‘It Ends with Us’ raked in $351 million globally. That film set a benchmark with its $50 million opening, and now the latest adaptation, ‘Verity‘, is generating some impressive figures of its own.
Directed by Michael Showalter, the psychological thriller features Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, marking the fourth Hoover adaptation to hit theaters. The R-rated film debuted nationwide on Friday, Oct. 2, following Thursday previews, and was produced by Amazon MGM Studios with a budget of $40 million.
The stakes are higher than usual for the studio, as Amazon MGM seeks to recover from the summer flop ‘Masters of the Universe’, which grossed only $113 million against a $200 million budget. A strong opening for ‘Verity’ would certainly help turn the tide.
Currently, the numbers are trending positively. Global Box Office reports that ‘Verity’ is experiencing remarkable walk-ups and Friday sales, projecting a domestic debut between $25 million and $32 million, which would easily secure the No. 1 spot for the weekend. This trend further underscores the appeal of Hoover adaptations.
VERITY is having outstanding walkups and Friday’s sales, as it’s now on track for a $25M-$32M domestic debut, easily #1!
Starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway, it’s another testament of how powerful Colleen Hoover adaptations are. pic.twitter.com/W8LmDN3il2
— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) October 1, 2026
This marks a significant increase from earlier predictions, which estimated the film would earn between $19 million and $25 million based on pre-sales. Other forecasts vary, with Box Office Theory estimating $24 million to $34 million and Amazon MGM projecting $27 million to $30 million.
More optimistic projections come from industry trades. Variety anticipates $30 million to $35 million from 3,510 theaters, while TheWrap predicts $35 million. Deadline suggests a domestic outlook of over $30 million, boosted by walk-up business from Hoover fans.
Competing against ‘Digger’, Tom Cruise’s latest film, which is projected to open with only $12 million to $15 million from 3,300 North American screens, ‘Verity’ is well-positioned to claim the top spot. Some analysts believe it could even triple that opening. A win would mark Hathaway’s third No. 1 opening of the year, following ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and ‘The Odyssey’.
It has been a busy year for Hathaway, with ‘Verity’ being her fifth film of 2026, following ‘Mother Mary’, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, ‘The Odyssey’, and ‘The End of Oak Street’. The latter opened to $21 million, which one box office analyst deemed a worst-case benchmark for ‘Verity’.
Internationally, Deadline reports that the film could earn $20 million to $25 million across 70 overseas territories, potentially bringing its global total to between $50 million and $55 million. Previews began Thursday at 2 p.m.
Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett star in an all-new trailer for #Verity.
In theaters October 2. pic.twitter.com/niq02J5nO5
— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) August 11, 2026
As for the reviews, they tell a different story. After the embargo lifted, the film received a 43% rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes from 65 reviews, along with a 43 on Metacritic. Critics have noted that the film fails to fully embrace the trashiness that the material demands, opting instead for a safer approach rather than diving into a sleazy 1990s-style erotic thriller.
However, there are some positive remarks. Screen Rant described it as the best Hoover adaptation yet, highlighting Johnson’s performance. Early audience reactions have been mixed, with some viewers calling it a thrilling experience while others deem it Hoover’s weakest adaptation.
Historically, critical reception may not significantly impact box office performance. For instance, ‘Reminders of Him’ garnered mixed reviews yet grossed $89 million against a $25 million budget. Similarly, ‘It Ends with Us’ demonstrated that Hoover’s dedicated fanbase often disregards critical opinions.
If Friday’s numbers hold, ‘Verity’ could emerge as one of the more profitable releases this fall, given its relatively low budget compared to projected earnings. The film also benefits from strong word of mouth among book clubs and social circles. The real challenge will arise in the following weeks as the initial rush subsides.
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