‘Verity’ Debuts at the Box Office Despite Mixed Reviews and Low CinemaScore

Avatar photoRobert Milaković
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Hollywood has been embracing Colleen Hoover’s works since 2024, when ‘It Ends With Us’ raked in $351M globally. That film opened to approximately $50M, setting a benchmark for subsequent adaptations of Hoover’s novels. Her fans have consistently proven to be some of the most dependable ticket buyers in the industry.

As ‘Verity’ approached its release, the key question was whether this psychological thriller would attract the same loyal audience. Predictions varied widely, with Box Office Theory estimating between $24M to $34M, Amazon MGM projecting $27M to $30M, and Variety forecasting $30M to $35M. The film’s reviews were not particularly encouraging either.

The answer arrived on Sunday. According to a post from Film Updates, ‘Verity’ opened with $32.5M domestically and $62.5M worldwide, against a production budget of $40M. The post featured a striking image of a dark-haired woman clad in a red top and red lipstick.

Weekend estimates indicated a domestic total of about $32.6M from 3,510 theaters, securing the No. 1 spot. The film garnered $4.5M during previews, followed by $15.1M on Friday, $10M on Saturday, and $7.5M on Sunday. Variety anticipates that it will turn a profit for Amazon MGM.

This opening marks the second-best for a Hoover adaptation, following ‘It Ends With Us’, which debuted at $50M. It surpassed ‘Regretting You’, which opened at $13.6M, and ‘Reminders of Him’, which had a debut of $17.9M. Women constituted approximately 78% to 79% of the opening weekend audience.

The film also represents a significant achievement for the cast. Dakota Johnson, who hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ the night before, celebrated her best domestic opening in eight years, since ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ debuted at $38.6M. Anne Hathaway now boasts her third No. 1 film of 2026, following ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and ‘The Odyssey’, making ‘Verity’ her fifth release this year.

Additionally, the film helped overshadow its competition. Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ opened to a mere $8M, marking his lowest debut in 19 years. ‘Resident Evil’ held second place with $12.5M, bringing its domestic total to $124.9M, while ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ experienced an 83% drop in its second weekend.

Despite the strong opening, ‘Verity’ comes with caveats. It holds a 34% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, although audience reception is more favorable at 70%. The film received a C+ CinemaScore, the lowest of any Hoover adaptation to date.

Critics have noted that director Michael Showalter plays it safe, with many feeling the film fails to embrace the campy tone that the material seems to demand. One review pointed out that it takes over an hour to reach a significant turning point.

Hathaway has been highlighted as a standout in the film. Numerous reviewers praised her campy performance, which holds the movie together, despite a consensus that it could have leaned into its bizarre elements more. Johnson and Hartnett were also noted for their commendable performances as Lowen Ashleigh and Jeremy Crawford.

Screenshot 2026 10 03 at 14 13 59 Verity Rotten Tomatoes

This mix of strong fan turnout and lukewarm reviews suggests a potentially front-loaded box office run. The audience drawn in by Hoover’s name may not generate widespread enthusiasm. Next weekend, the Jessica Chastain-led ‘Other Mommy’ will provide new competition.

The film follows Lowen, a struggling writer tasked with ghostwriting the book series of a renowned author, Verity Crawford, after a serious accident prevents her from completing it. Showalter directed the film from a script by Nick Antosca, based on Hoover’s novel. This marks the author’s first thriller to hit theaters.

Despite the mixed reception, a $62.5M global start on a $40M budget is a commendable outcome.

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