DC's Clayface opened at No. 1 with about $24 million in North America. Critics are split on the movie, but they mostly agree that Tom Rhys Harries is excellent.
The Numbers
DC Studios scored what the AP called "a modest, R-rated win," with a $24 million domestic opening from 3,458 theaters, according to studio estimates released Sunday. Warner Bros. reported another $19 million internationally, bringing the worldwide opening to roughly $43 million. It was a close race. The film narrowly edged A24's three-hour Elizabeth Holmes documentary, You Can See Everything, for first place.
The budget makes those numbers easier to read. The film cost an estimated $40 million, which is small for a superhero release. The Hollywood Reporter noted that it "doesn't need to be a blockbuster to turn a profit". Final domestic figures arrive Monday, so these totals are estimates.
What Critics Are Saying
Reviews are mixed but leaning positive. Metacritic shows a 59 "mixed or average" score from 44 reviews. Rotten Tomatoes' critics score started around 75%, well above the roughly 52% the outlet cited for DC's Supergirl.
The praise is specific. IGN called it "nasty but fun body horror" that is "at its best when it embraces its B-movie absurdity". The Telegraph said "there is no pandering to fans," and that you could leave "with no idea you'd been watching a franchise movie". Slant went furthest, calling it "a stroke of brilliance" as a setup for a coming Batman update.
The complaints are just as specific. NPR called it "underbaked body horror" that plants "one of its feet of clay in horror and the other in superhero". The LA Times liked the body horror but called the script "a sloppy mess". Rolling Stone was harshest, comparing the film to "eating a handful of Play-Doh".
The Real Star
Almost every review singles out Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries, who plays fading-star-turned-monster Matt Hagen in his first major lead role. Variety said he brings "sandy handsomeness" but also "an anguished hunger". IndieWire praised his ability to convey "genuine pathos under gobs of makeup and VFX". The Independent said his "wounded intensity" would carry the film even with "a dozen more prosthetics".
Director James Watkins, known for Eden Lake and The Woman in Black, leans on practical effects, and several reviewers liked the old-school, in-camera feel. The LA Times also noted that when Clayface becomes someone else, another performer often steps in, so the movie is not much of an acting showcase.
Why It Matters
This is DC's first R-rated, villain-led, body-horror film. NPR says it works better as "an opening gambit in what will assuredly prove a long game" than as proof that DC horror can sustain itself. A modest budget, a solid No. 1 opening and a breakout lead suggest the experiment paid off, even if the movie itself is uneven.
Should You See It?
Go if you like grisly practical effects, B-movie energy, and a superhero movie that doesn't depend on cameos. Skip it if you want a deep character study or a richly drawn Gotham. For horror fans curious about DC's darker side, it is a gooey, imperfect, and often entertaining night out.
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