The psychological thriller "Verity" led the North American box office this past weekend, earning an estimated $32.6 million in its opening frame. The film, produced by MGM and starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett, is adapted from Colleen Hoover's novel and centers on a struggling writer hired to help a famous author complete her book. Despite receiving mixed to weak reviews from critics and audiences, the movie's strong box office debut indicates considerable audience interest, according to industry analyst David A. Gross of FranchiseRe Movies.

Sony's "Resident Evil" held steady in second place, generating $12.5 million during its third weekend in theaters and bringing its total North American gross to $125 million. Close behind in third place was Paramount's "Heart of the Beast," featuring Brad Pitt as a former soldier surviving in the Alaskan wilderness alongside a loyal but traumatized combat dog. The film earned approximately $11 million in its second weekend.

Tom Cruise's latest release, "Digger," opened in fourth place with an estimated $8 million. The black comedy casts Cruise as a wealthy and influential man who inadvertently triggers a climate disaster and attempts to position himself as the one capable of resolving the crisis. While the film's earnings are considered moderate for a black comedy, Gross noted that "Digger," being a high-profile Cruise project, might be expected to perform stronger given its profile.

Following close behind, "Primetime" also took in around $8 million, slipping to fifth place. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen, the host of the mid-2000s U.S. reality television program "To Catch a Predator," which staged sting operations to apprehend would-be child predators on camera.

Rounding out the top ten were a mix of sequels and re-releases: "Forgotten Island" with $7.2 million, "Avengers Endgame: Encore" re-release securing $4.4 million, followed by "Practical Magic 2" at $2.65 million, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with $2.45 million, and "The Odyssey" at $1.3 million.

The box office results highlight "Verity's" unexpected success amid a crowded market and underscore varied audience preferences as several high-profile projects, including Cruise's "Digger," underperformed relative to expectations.