‘Clayface’ Presales Trail Far Behind ‘Supergirl’, but the DC Horror Film Could Still Win

DC Studios has had a mixed run at the box office so far. After ‘Superman’ launched James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe, ‘Supergirl’ arrived in June to a disappointing $37.1 million domestic opening, eventually finishing with $72.3 million in the U.S. and around $126 million worldwide against a reported $170 million budget.

Next up is ‘Clayface’, an R-rated body horror film directed by James Watkins and opening on October 23. Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen, a rising actor whose life is upended after a horrific disfigurement, from a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini.

Now, the latest presale data has raised some eyebrows. According to Box Office Theory, ‘Clayface’ is tracking 80% behind ‘Supergirl’ at the same point in its presale cycle, with just over a week to go before release.

The film is also reportedly running 66% behind current presales for Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’. Based on those comparisons, the tracker has pointed toward an opening weekend of roughly $20 million domestically.

Other trackers have shared similar results. MovieHub recently reported that ‘Clayface’ presales were around 76% behind ‘Supergirl’ at the same stage. The latest numbers come in below earlier projections. Boxoffice Pro’s first long-range forecast had the film opening between $23 million and $33 million, which already placed it under ‘Supergirl’.

First clip from DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/jP1b5yP1gG

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 9, 2026

The film also quietly lost its IMAX billing in Warner Bros.’ official materials. That means it won’t benefit from the premium-format presales that typically help boost superhero releases. Despite the headlines, comparing ‘Clayface’ to ‘Supergirl’ isn’t entirely fair. The horror film was made for a reported $40 million, less than a quarter of ‘Supergirl’s’ budget.

Even a modest opening could cover a large portion of its production costs. At the low end of Boxoffice Pro’s range, a $23 million debut would equal about 58% of the budget in a single weekend. Horror audiences also behave very differently from superhero fans. They rarely buy tickets weeks in advance, which means presales may underrepresent the film’s true potential.

The final trailer for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’ has been released. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/ecTMB97Sto

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 24, 2026

There’s also a chance ‘Clayface’ could follow a similar path to some of this year’s breakout horror hits. Films like ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ built strong word of mouth and performed well over time.

Early test screenings for ‘Clayface’ were reportedly positive, with viewers comparing it to ‘Joker’, ‘The Substance’ and ‘Vanilla Sky’. If critics and audiences respond well, the film could enjoy a longer, steadier run.

James Gunn has already defended the film against skeptics. Responding to a fan on Threads, he pointed out that many great movies weren’t made because audiences specifically asked for them.

He has also emphasized that he values filmmakers who bring genuine passion to lesser-known characters. That philosophy is clearly behind DC’s willingness to take a risk on ‘Clayface’.

New poster for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/thdUvnjlbu

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 14, 2026

‘Clayface’ opens in theaters on October 23, facing competition from Laika’s acclaimed ‘Wildwood’. Official reviews and the film’s social media embargo will likely play a major role in shaping its final opening.

For now, the presale numbers suggest a modest start. Whether the film can overcome that and become a sleeper hit will depend on how audiences react once it finally reaches theaters.

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