"Novocaine" is off to a good start at the box office with an estimated $8.5 million opening weekend, but the marketplace is in a terrible slump.

Five new movies opened in wide release in North American theaters this weekend. And yet it's likely going to be the lowest-grossing of the year to date.

Paramount’s Novocaine made $1.75M in previews — but that’s not just from last night, rather advance screenings from last weekend as well. The R-rated action comedy, which cost a net $18M before P&A, is expected to lead the box office with anywhere from $8M-$12M,

The Paramount action comedy is off to a good start, but the $55 million overall weekend total is the worst for March since 1996

When final receipts are tallied Monday, it’s likely going be the lowest-grossing weekend of the year to date with around $54 million in total ticket sales.

Paramount Pictures’ action-comedy Novocaine, starring Jack Quaid, claimed the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office with a modest $8.7 million debut. The film, about a man who feels no physical pain, fell below early projections of $10 million despite earning $1.5 million from Thursday previews.

Action-comedy “Novocaine” topped the box office in a weekend that saw five movies open widely in North America in which none set ticket sales on fire. “Novocaine,” featuring Jack Quaid as a man who can’t feel pain,