Strictly Business Daily Variety -- Box Office: 'Reminders of Him' Expands the Hoover-verse; 'Hoppers' Hangs Tough
Mar 16, 2026
Rebecca Rubin, senior film and media reporter at Variety, breaks down the rise of the Hoover-verse and why Reminders of Him dominated the weekend. She explores BookTok-fueled theatrical demand and Colleen Hoover’s move into producing. Rebecca also analyzes Hoppers’ strong hold, Undertone’s horror buzz, and what Project Hail Mary could mean for Amazon MGM.
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Colleen Hoover Is A Box Office Brand
- Colleen Hoover has become a box-office-driving brand for female-skewing romantic dramas that traditionally migrated to streaming.
- Reminders of Him opened to $28M worldwide on a $25M budget with 80% female opening crowds, proving theatrical demand from BookTok fandoms.
Midbudget Romance Movies Have Aatrical Upside
- Midbudget original dramas are a strategic opportunity again because streaming left a theatrical gap.
- Reminders of Him's $25M cost and strong opening suggest studios can score with modestly budgeted female-focused titles.
Hoover Built Her Own Production Path
- Hoover shifted from selling rights early to forming her own production company and co-writing Reminders of Him's screenplay.
- She and producing partner Lauren Levine developed the script and then sold it to Universal, retaining creative control.