New animated movie *Transformers One* will see an opening weekend of $26 million, less than what was projected earlier. The movie earned $9.7 million on Friday, including preview screenings. The preview shows make $3.36 million. The film, directed by Josh Cooley, is doing great box office with family crowds. Still pending though, is whether audiences will expand over the weekend, though the picture has received a great Hispanic and Latino score of 93%, finding 33% of its ticket sales thus far comprised of that audience-the second largest ticket seller after the Caucasian crowd that makes up the majority. Significantly, only 5% of the schools were closed on Friday, which may have accounted for the low attendance.

On the other hand, Warner Bros. ' *Beetlejuice* remains strong in its third weekend. The movie should take in $24.75 million this weekend from 4,172 theaters. The film takes in $6.75 million today. The domestic box office total for *Beetlejuice* will probably cross $225.6 million by Sunday. That would make it the second-highest September release of all time, behind only 2017's *It*, which opened at $328.8 million. *Beetlejuice* is also on track to outgross *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings*, the 2021 film that went on to gross $224.5 million. For actress Jenna Ortega , this would be her biggest lead role, aside from her supporting part in *Iron Man 3*, which took in $409 million domestically.

Third is the Blumhouse/Universal release *Speak No Evil*, in its second weekend. The horror movie took $5.7 million over this weekend, with $1.7 million of that on Friday. Its box office take will likely be about $21.2 million by the end of the weekend.

Horror movie *Never Let Go*, which features Halle Berry , likely finished fourth for Lionsgate. It made $1.45 million on Friday and is expected to gross between $3 million and $4.25 million for the weekend. The movie aired during TV ads, which have increased its exposure, especially in the Midwest. Meanwhile, the body-swap genre film *The Substance*, featuring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, will have a relatively more modest launch, with an opening weekend likely to gross $3.3 million to $3.5 million. It was low on marketing budget, so the movie relied on digital ad Films.

Finally, Disney/Marvel 's *Deadpool & Wolverine* is in its ninth week, and it brought in $1 million on Friday, with a possible $4 million for the weekend. That would take it to $627.4 million by Sunday domestically. It is running just 1% behind *Inside Out 2*, which has taken in $652.6 million at this point in its run.

The first animated Transformers movie in almost 40 years got off to a strong preview night, taking in $3.36 million. That topped other family films like IF ($1.75 million), The Garfield Movie ($2.3 million), and even Bumblebee, the 2018 live-action Transformers spinoff, at $2.15 million in previews. Still, only time will tell if Transformers One builds into more than just a good night, and whether it's one to beat at the box office as the weekend continues.