On its way to a projected $65-70 million opening, the Stephen King adaptation It scared up $13.5 in Thursday night previews alone, breaking multiple box office records.
$13.5 million in previews is the most of any horror movie, any R-rated movie and any movie released in September in the history of the domestic box office, per THR. Most notably, it beats Deadpool’s mark of $12.7 million—although it is not expected to best Deadpool’s record haul of $132.7 million over its entire opening weekend. Deadpool had been the previous record holder in previews for R-rated movies.
It, an adaptation of Stephen King’s gigantic novel of the same name, follows a group of children in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, as they contend with an ancient evil that manifests in the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The film has fared very well with critics, as it holds a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, although our review isn’t quite so glowing.
Director Andy Muschietti is already planning a sequel to It, per Variety.