Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson lead the erotic thriller Verity, which is tracking $30‑$35 million in its opening weekend across 3,500 US screens.
The new Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity is set to roll out on October 2, and early estimates put its North American opening between $30 million and $35 million. That range would land the film at the top of the weekend box‑office and give it the second‑biggest debut ever for a Hoover title, trailing only the $50 million splash from It Ends with Us.
Box Office Outlook
The figures come from industry trackers who have tallied pre‑sale data from roughly 3,510 theatres. If the mid‑point of the range holds, Verity will out‑earn the modestly performing Digger, which opens the same weekend. The star‑studded cast – Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett – is expected to drive the numbers, with Hathaway already chalking up a third #1 opening this year after The Odyssey and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The Hoover catalogue has been a mixed bag at the box‑office. Regretting You managed $13.6 million on its debut, while Reminders of Him pulled in $17 million. Both fell short of the $50 million benchmark set by It Ends with Us, which remains the gold standard for the author’s screen adaptations. Verity’s projected haul would push it well ahead of those two, cementing its place as the franchise’s most successful launch after the original.
The film follows the story of a bestselling author who is left incapacitated after a crash, prompting her husband to hire a struggling writer to finish the series. The new writer soon uncovers unsettling secrets, a premise that blends romance, mystery and a dash of horror – a mix that has already generated buzz on social platforms.
Industry insiders say the timing is ideal. The October slot avoids the heavyweight summer blockbusters and lands just before the holiday rush, giving Verity a clear runway to dominate the market. Also, the film’s genre – an erotic thriller with a literary twist – fills a niche that hasn’t been crowded this season.
Audience reaction to the trailer has been largely positive, with many praising the chemistry between Hathaway and Johnson. Critics who have previewed the film note that the direction by Michael Showalter brings a sleek visual style that elevates the source material’s darker undertones.
If Verity meets the lower end of the forecast, it will still secure a solid $30 million, a respectable figure for a mid‑budget drama. Hitting the upper end would solidify its #1 status for the weekend and boost the confidence in adapting best‑selling novels for the big screen.
The next few days will reveal whether the buzz translates into ticket sales. Box‑office trackers will update the numbers on Monday, and the film’s performance could influence the release strategy for the next wave of Hoover adaptations slated for early next year.
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