The Paramount action comedy is off to a good start, but the $55 million overall weekend total is the worst for March since 1996

Five new movies opened in wide release in North American theaters this weekend. And yet it's likely going to be the lowest-grossing of the year to date.

When final receipts are tallied Monday, it’s likely going be the lowest-grossing weekend of the year to date with around $54 million in total ticket sales.

"Novocaine" is off to a good start at the box office with an estimated $8.5 million opening weekend, but the marketplace is in a terrible slump.

Paramount’s Novocaine made $1.75M in previews — but that’s not just from last night, rather advance screenings from last weekend as well. The R-rated action comedy, which cost a net $18M before P&A, is expected to lead the box office with anywhere from $8M-$12M,

Paramount Pictures’ action-comedy Novocaine, starring Jack Quaid, claimed the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office with a modest $8.7 million debut. The film, about a man who feels no physical pain, fell below early projections of $10 million despite earning $1.5 million from Thursday previews.

Jack Quaid’s action-comedy “ Novocaine ” topped a painfully slow weekend at the box office with $8.7 million. For theater owners, however, there’s not too much to celebrate: It’s one of the worst debuts to still capture the No. 1 spot (at least since the pandemic ground moviegoing to a halt).