Clayface makes $3.5m in previews as DC horror hits Nigerian cinemas

DC horror movie Clayface took an estimated $3.5 million from Thursday previews in the United States, Deadline and Variety reported on Friday, 23 October 2026. The Clayface box office run is only a day old, and the film is already in Nigerian cinemas.

That preview number is less than half of what Supergirl made from its own previews in June. The difference is the price tag. Deadline puts the Clayface production budget at $44 million, small money for a comic-book movie.

So is it a stumble or a quiet win? It depends on which number you look at. GistMatrix lined up the comparisons, checked the Nigerian showtimes and traced how the movie got here.

How much did Clayface make in previews?

Clayface made about $3.5 million from shows that began at 2pm US time on Thursday, 22 October, according to Deadline, and the figure may still rise when the full count lands. Deadline expects a US opening weekend of $20 million to $25 million, which would be enough for No. 1.

The main threat is You Can See Everything, A24’s documentary about Elizabeth Holmes. It opened with $15.6 million last weekend, led every weekday this week and expands from 855 to about 2,600 cinemas on Friday, World of Reel reported. A documentary beating a DC movie would be a strange weekend for Hollywood.

What do the numbers say?

Against other villain-led comic-book movies, $3.5 million lands in the middle. Kraven the Hunter made $2 million in previews and opened to $11 million; Birds of Prey made $4 million in 2020 and opened to $33 million, according to figures gathered by Cosmic Book News. Supergirl took $7.8 million from previews on 25 June 2026, TheWrap reported, or $8.2 million counting earlier fan screenings.

The budget is where Clayface looks smarter. World of Reel projects a worldwide start of about $45 million. If that holds, its first-weekend ticket sales would roughly match its production budget, though cinemas keep a large share of every ticket and marketing costs come on top. Reviews are on its side too: Deadline reported a 76% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, second among DC Universe films after Superman.

Where can you watch Clayface in Nigeria?

Clayface is showing in Nigerian cinemas now. When GistMatrix checked Cinephiles.ng at about 8:35pm WAT on Friday, 23 October, it listed 270 showtimes this week in 27 cinemas, across Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, Benin City, Enugu, Port Harcourt and other cities. Lagos alone had 143.

Friday night shows included Filmhouse Lekki IMAX at 9:15pm and a 4DX screening at Filmhouse Landmark at 10:20pm. The listing carries a 15 rating, and parents should take it seriously: this is body horror, and early reviewers warned it gets very gory. Cinemas change times daily, so check before you go.

How did we get here?

January 2021: Horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) says publicly he wants to make a Clayface movie.
December 2024: DC Studios, run by James Gunn and Peter Safran, greenlights it for the new DC Universe.
February 2025: James Watkins (Speak No Evil) enters talks to direct; Hossein Amini later rewrites Flanagan’s script.
31 August to 1 November 2025: Filming in Liverpool and at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
February 2026: Warner Bros. moves the release from 11 September to 23 October, closer to Halloween.
21 to 23 October 2026: The international roll-out starts, then the US opening.

Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, a fading B-movie actor who injects himself with an experimental substance and finds he can reshape his face and body like clay. Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan co-star, with Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris among the producers.

What happens next

Studio estimates for the full US weekend are due on Sunday, 25 October, with figures usually landing in the early evening WAT, and they will settle the race with You Can See Everything. In Nigeria, Clayface runs at least until Thursday, 29 October, on the current Cinephiles.ng listings. The next DC Universe film is Man of Tomorrow, due in July 2027.

FAQ

Is Clayface showing in Nigeria?
Yes. Cinephiles.ng listed 270 showtimes in 27 Nigerian cinemas for the week from Friday, 23 October 2026, with a 15 rating.

Who plays Clayface?
Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, the actor who becomes Clayface. James Watkins directed the film.

Is Clayface part of the DCU?
Yes. It is a DC Studios film in the same DC Universe as Superman (2025) and Supergirl (2026).

Will you brave Clayface in the cinema this weekend? Tell us in the comments.

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