Don’t Worry Darling Thursday Preview screenings scare up $3.1M at the box office

Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling is making headlines this afternoon for reasons other than actor drama, rumor, and, of course, what’s known as the “Spitgate” incident. Wilde’s anticipated thriller is now in theaters, with the film earning $3.1 million in Thursday Preview screenings. The total also counts for early screenings viewed on IMAX for select audiences. Analysts predict a $17 million opening weekend, though early ticket sales could result in a $20-$24 million debut.

Behind-the-scenes stories about Don’t Worry Darling have circled since the Venice Film Festival, where the movie played for a mixed crowd. Despite the project’s off-screen drama, younger audiences are snapping-up tickets to the show. Many believe this is because of the movie’s Harry Styles factor. Styles is one of the hottest entertainers in the world, before and after his most recent album, Harry’s House. While Styles is a hot ticket, early reviews for the film occupy the low end of the spectrum. Don’t Worry Darling currently holds a 37% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is likely a kiss of death for awards season. However, the film also has an 87% Audience Score. As always, it’s best to see the movie and express your opinion about its quality.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Alice and Jack are lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. The 1950s societal optimism espoused by their CEO, Frank —equal parts corporate visionary and motivational life coach— anchors every aspect of daily life in the tight-knit desert utopia.

While the husbands spend every day inside the Victory Project Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials,” their wives —including Frank’s elegant partner, Shelley —get to spend their time enjoying the beauty, luxury, and debauchery of their community. Life is perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company. All they ask in return is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause.

But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath the attractive façade, Alice can’t help questioning exactly what they’re doing in Victory and why. Just how much is Alice willing to lose to expose what’s really going on in this paradise?

Olivia Wilde directs Don’t Worry Darling from a screenplay by Katie Silberman, based on a story by Carey Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke. Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, Kiki Layne, Nick Kroll, and Sydney Chandler lead the cast, with Kate Berlant, Asif Ali, Douglas Smith, and Timothy Simons co-starring.

Are you interested in checking out Don’t Worry Darling in theaters? Do you think the film’s negative press will affect its box office total? What do you think of the Don’t Worry Darling Thursday Preview total? Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts.