Verity debuts at No. 1, beating projections for Amazon MGM

The erotic psychological thriller Verity secured the top spot at the domestic box office during its opening weekend, exceeding pre-release industry forecasts. This performance provides Amazon MGM Studios with a robust return on its $40 million production investment. The film features Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett in leading roles.

Box office numbers exceed expectations

Data from Box Office Mojo indicates the movie earned $32.6 million across 3,510 North American theaters. Globally, it collected $62.5 million. Among adaptations of Colleen Hoover’s novels, this launch ranks second worldwide, trailing only the $95.6 million debut of It Ends With Us in 2024. Verity outperformed other Hoover-based films such as Regretting You ($23.6 million) and Reminders of Him ($28.1 million). Domestically, while it fell short of It Ends With Us, it significantly surpassed both titles.

Cast and directorial details

Anne Hathaway portrays Verity Crawford, an acclaimed author. Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer engaged to ghostwrite Crawford’s remaining works. Michael Showalter directed the project, which carried a $40 million budget.

International markets and audience demographics

Outside North America, Verity achieved No. 1 status in several regions. Specific earnings include $4.5 million in the UK, $3.8 million in Brazil, $3.1 million in Australia, $3.8 million in Germany, and $400,000 in Norway. Amazon’s international divisions noted that the film attracted male viewers and individuals who had not read the source novel, extending beyond the author’s existing fanbase. Audience composition was heavily female, accounting for 78 percent of attendees, with 38 percent of ticket buyers aged between 25 and 34.

Weekend context and critical reception

Rentrak estimates suggest the weekend could generate approximately $100 million domestically. This represents a roughly 19 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Projections indicate the 2026 domestic box office will reach an estimated $7.9 billion by Sunday, marking a 19 percent gain over the equivalent timeframe in 2025. Critical response contrasted sharply with commercial success. The film received a CinemaScore of C+ and holds a 34 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In comparison, Digger, an erotic psychological thriller starring Josh Hartnett, also received a C+ CinemaScore but earned only $8 million domestically and $20 million globally against a $40 million budget.

Upcoming release schedule

Verity is scheduled to open in Taiwan and CIS countries next. Releases in Japan are set for October 22, followed by Korea on November 6. These upcoming dates offer further opportunities for the film to extend its box office streak.