Solo Mio leads newcomers with a steady Super Bowl weekend debut

Updated: Sunday, February 8, 2026 (ET). Romantic dramedy Solo Mio posted a solid theatrical start in North America, carving out a clear win among new wide releases on a historically soft Super Bowl frame and drawing warm notices from critics and audiences alike.

Box office snapshot

Industry trackers peg Solo Mio’s opening weekend in the rough $6.7–7.6 million range through Sunday (ET), good for No. 2 overall and No. 1 among the weekend’s newcomers. The film launched with approximately $744,000 in Thursday previews, followed by about $3.18 million on Friday as momentum carried into Saturday showings despite heavy competition for attention this weekend. The title is playing widely in just over 3,000 locations, a footprint designed to capture date-night and family audiences even as many moviegoers focus on football.

How the Friday-to-Sunday curve looks

The three-day trajectory reflects a typical Super Bowl pattern: a front-loaded Friday, a modest Saturday lift, and a softer Sunday. With that profile, Solo Mio’s range by Sunday night (ET) leaves the film positioned for strong weekday holds and a healthy second weekend rally once the sports calendar clears. For a production budget reported in the low single digits (around $4 million), the opening frame already points to efficient economics if word of mouth holds.

Reception: critics and moviegoers align

As of Sunday morning (ET), a major review aggregator shows an early critics score in the low 80s from roughly thirty reviews, while verified audience sentiment sits in the mid‑90s. The blend of breezy humor, postcard‑ready Roman backdrops, and a gently inspirational recovery‑from‑heartbreak arc appears to be connecting with date-night crowds and fans of the lead’s genial screen persona. That approval gap—critics positive, audiences even higher—often correlates with solid multiples beyond opening weekend.

Release details and positioning

Solo Mio is rated PG, runs about 1 hour 40 minutes, and began its theatrical run in the United States and Canada on Friday, February 6, 2026 (ET). The story follows Matt Taylor, a jilted groom who continues to Italy on his planned honeymoon and finds unexpected community, kindness, and a second chance at connection. The film’s campaign emphasized accessible romance, picturesque travel vibes, and a tone suitable for teens and up—an intentional counter-programming play for Super Bowl weekend and the Valentine’s corridor ahead.

Marketing watch: the “Matt Taylor” persona

In the lead-up to release, the project benefited from a viral character push built around a wholesome art‑teacher persona named Matt Taylor on short‑form video feeds. The bit—light, earnest, and relentlessly encouraging—kept the character top‑of‑mind without relying on traditional reveal‑heavy ads. In the last week before opening, the gag continued to generate chatter, helping the film stand out against a crowded slate of genre titles and concert fare vying for screens.

What to watch next

Key indicators to monitor over the next 48 hours (ET): (1) the official weekend actuals versus Saturday’s estimates; (2) weekday holds once the football hangover passes; (3) the pace of theater count adjustments heading into Valentine’s weekend; and (4) any movement in the aggregator scores as more reviews land. With modest costs, favorable audience buzz, and seasonally aligned themes, Solo Mio is set up for a leggy run if it can translate strong word of mouth into repeat business and group outings through mid‑February.

Sources consulted: https://www.angel.com/movies/solo-mio, https://support.angel.com/hc/en-us/articles/36793291675927-SOLO-MIO-FAQ, https://ca.news.yahoo.com/send-help-stays-no-1-160927937.html, https://nypost.com/2026/02/07/entertainment/stray-kids-school-competition-on-first-day-in-theaters/