‘Clayface’ Opens Quietly in Europe as DC’s Horror Film Faces Slow Start
DC Studios’ inaugural horror film is making its way around the globe, with early international figures starting to come in. ‘Clayface’, directed by James Watkins, is an R-rated body horror tale centered on the Batman villain, which began its overseas rollout on October 21, just ahead of its North American release on October 23.
The film comes with a modest budget of $40 million but carries the significant weight of the DC Universe. For context, ‘Supergirl’ debuted with $38 million domestically in June and concluded with a worldwide total of $126 million, making every opening result for ‘Clayface’ a focal point for gauging its momentum.
Two European markets have reported their opening-day figures, and neither has shown a breakout performance. In Italy, ‘Clayface’ ranked 7th on its opening day, earning €36,924 from 4,907 viewers, averaging just €246 across 150 cinemas. In France, it opened outside the top 5, a notable contrast to ‘Supergirl’, which debuted in 4th place there.
The French box office for October 21 was led by ‘Ducobu et le fantôme de Saint Potache’, followed by ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Mochy’, ‘Karma’, and ‘L’île des souvenirs’. ‘Clayface’ did not make the list, which is significant for a film that was also available in IMAX in the region.
The early trend was evident even before the final counts. By 2 p.m. in Paris, the film had attracted 652 viewers, lagging behind ‘Karma’ with 1,233 and ‘L’île des souvenirs’ with 1,068. The film is rated 12+ in France, allowing for a broader audience compared to its American R rating, though it is still not aimed at families.
In Italy, the top spot for the day went to ‘Je so’ pazzo’ with €167,536 from 24,285 spectators, followed by ‘Trainspotting’ with €141,491 and ‘L’estranea’ with €86,125. ‘Carlo Acutis. Il giovane Santo’ secured fourth place with €70,854, while ‘Mammina’ and ‘Primetime’ earned €59,317 and €55,543, respectively.
‘Clayface’ landed just behind that group, surpassing ‘Whalefall: Nella balena’, which made €35,248 from 5,082 viewers. The margin is narrow, indicating the film is competitive with other genre releases on the chart. ‘Naza’ and ‘Zustissia’ followed closely with €34,881 and €34,514.
Watch the first trailer for #Clayface. The new DC horror film is in theaters October 23. https://t.co/gqrrtJSou5
— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) April 22, 2026
South Korea reported a slightly stronger performance, with ‘Clayface’ opening to 14,664 admissions on its first day across 556 screens, placing behind a Japanese animated film and a local release. Overall, the early figures suggest a respectable but not extraordinary start in various markets.
The results do not indicate a collapse, especially for a gritty horror film not intended for family audiences, but they also do not suggest a breakout success. A clearer picture will emerge once the weekend totals are in.
Variety projected that ‘Clayface’ could earn between $20 million and $25 million overseas from 76 markets, leading to a global opening of $45 million to $55 million. In North America, forecasts suggest an opening between $25 million and $35 million from approximately 3,400 theaters, with some estimates landing between $22 million and $30 million.
Not all indicators are favorable. Tracking from a box office forum revealed that domestic presales are about 80% behind ‘Supergirl’ and 66% behind ‘Resident Evil’ at the same stage, with some projections indicating an opening below $20 million. While advance sales do not always predict final outcomes, they have added to the pressure.
It’s essential to keep the early results in context. Opening-day figures can be misleading for horror films, which often depend on weekend audiences and word-of-mouth. Additionally, the film is entering competitive markets with strong local contenders.
There are also positive signs regarding audience reception. French outlet AlloCiné reported that initial reactions were very favorable, with viewers describing the film as “fantastic” and “captivating.” If this goodwill continues, the weekend could yield better results than the first-day numbers imply.
The real test will come this weekend, as North America opens and global totals begin to take shape. Reports suggest the film needs to reach around $80 million to $100 million in total box office to break even under typical industry standards, making a healthy international share crucial.
The film also faces competition for the top domestic spot from A24’s documentary ‘You Can See Everything’, which is expanding to about 2,600 venues. With this competition and the early overseas figures, ‘Clayface’ has much to prove.
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