Hollywood’s latest thriller, Novocaine, promised to be a nerve-jangling hit but instead delivered a box office snooze-fest, dragging the weekend’s domestic earnings to their lowest since the pandemic. The film, starring A-lister Clara Vale as a dentist entangled in a deadly conspiracy, scraped together just 7.1millionfrom3,400theaters—
Industry analysts called the results “a wake-up call” for studios banking on star power alone. “Audiences are pickier than ever,” said box office tracker Jeff Bock. “Without strong reviews or a viral hook, even big names can’t save a film from flatlining.” Novocaine scored a dismal 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics panning its “predictable plot” and “sleepwalking suspense.”
The rest of the box office wasn’t much livelier. Kung Fu Panda 4 clawed its way to #1 again with 8.7 million. But overall, ticket sales plummeted 35% from last weekend, marking 2024’s worst performance yet.
So what went wrong with Novocaine? Insiders blame its murky marketing. Trailers teased a “John Wick meets The Dentist” vibe but left viewers confused. “Was it a horror movie? A dark comedy? No one knew,” tweeted one fan. Meanwhile, its TikTok campaign—leaning on “teeth horror” clips—backfired, with users joking, “This is why I floss.”
Studio execs are now scrambling. Rumor has it Novocaine could hit streaming as early as June, cutting its theatrical losses. But with Furiosa and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes revving up for May, experts warn: “If mid-budget thrillers keep flopping, studios will double down on franchises. Original stories? They’ll be on life support.”
Was Novocaine just a bad trip—or a sign of bigger trouble for Hollywood? Grab your popcorn (and maybe a dental checkup) before the next blockbuster hits… or misses.