‘Crawl’ Swims Past Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani’s ‘Stuber’ at Thursday Box Office

Brian Welk

“Crawl,” Paramount’s horror movie from director Alexandre Aja and producer Sam Raimi, outperformed Fox/Disney’s “Stuber” starring Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani at the Thursday box office.

“Crawl” brought in approximately $1 million in its previews, while “Stuber” earned only $750,000. “Crawl” was projected by the studio in the $10 million range, while independent trackers have “Stuber” pegged to make around $15 million.

For a comparison, Fox’s 2014 summer buddy comedy “Let’s Be Cops” earned $3.2 million in Thursday previews and opened to $17.8 million. And Dwayne Johnson’s “Baywatch” from 2017 made $1.25 million on the Wednesday ahead of Memorial Day before opening to $18.5 million.

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“Stuber” is just the third Fox film released since the merger with Disney, the other two being “Breakthrough” and “Dark Phoenix,” and it’s also Disney’s first R-rated film in six years. Bautista stars in the film as a detective who recruits his Uber driver (Nanjiani) to help him pursue a terrorist. Michael Dowse directs a cast that also includes Mira Sorvino, Natalie Morales, Iko Uwais, Betty Gilpin and Karen Gillan.

The Paramount R-rated horror movie is projected by the studio to earn in the $10 million range. “Crawl” is earning comparisons to “47 Meters Down,” with “Crawl” exchanging vicious alligators for that film’s sharks, and that movie opened to $11.2 million after earning $735,000 during Thursday previews.

Also Read: Can 'Stuber' or 'Crawl' Find an Audience in 'Spider-Man'-Dominated Box Office?

Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper star in the film in which a young woman attempting to rescue her father during a category 5 hurricane is forced to fend off attacks from blood thirsty alligators as she navigates a flooding house. Alexandre Aja directs and produces alongside “Evil Dead” producer Sam Raimi.

Read original story ‘Crawl’ Swims Past Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani’s ‘Stuber’ at Thursday Box Office At TheWrap