Jack Quaid’s action-comedy “ Novocaine ” topped a painfully slow weekend at the box office with $8.7 million. For theater owners, however, there’s not too much to celebrate: It’s one of the worst debuts to still capture the No. 1 spot (at least since the pandemic ground moviegoing to a halt).

With just $8.7 million domestic, it's the lowest No. 1 since February 2024 and the worst new opener to hit No. 1 since February 2023.