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.

M arch 2025 was never going to be huge at the domestic box office. While this time last year saw the movie release calendar populated with titles including Denis Villeneuve's Dune

Novocaine could have been written by a 12-year-old, and I’m not sure I mean that pejoratively. It’s a riff on superhero stories, but it’s been thought up with a whiff of dopey plausibility: The film’s protagonist,

Quaid's leading role in Novocaine feels like a natural continuation of these genre-bent everymen. He plays Nathan Caine, a mild-mannered assistant bank manager who has congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), a genetic disorder that impacts his nervous system to the point that he can't feel pain or temperature.

“Novocaine” only cost $18 million to produce, so (like its main character) it shouldn’t be feeling any pain at the box office. On the flip side, “Mickey 17” cost $118 million to produce and needs around $275 million to $300 million worldwide to make a profit.

Novocaine hit theaters hard this weekend, and star Jack Quaid caught the eye of an unexpected fandom. As the movie made headlines and the hype reached new heights, many commenters online began to suggest that Quaid could finally bring the Max Payne video game franchise to the big screen.

The hero at the heart of “Novocaine” can't feel pain. The new film in theaters Friday stars Jack Quaid as Nate, an ordinary guy whose disability becomes his saving grace when attempting to save a hostage from violent criminals.

Jack Quaid's action comedy film is looking to dethrone Mickey 17 at what might be the year's softest weekend at the box office so far.