The Avenue’s recent release “Land of Bad” has been making waves at the box office, grossing an impressive $1.8 million on 1,120 screens. This film, powered by Variance, has managed to land itself in the top ten for the weekend, showcasing the strong word of mouth that it has generated. The high Saturday grosses, which jumped by 37% from Friday, indicate a growing interest in the film. The estimated four-day total of $2.07 million is a testament to its success. Starring the likes of Russell Crowe and Liam and Luke Hemsworth, “Land of Bad” is resonating best with audiences on the West Coast and in the heartland/Midwest regions. Suburban theaters have seen the biggest growth from Friday to Saturday, solidifying the film’s appeal in various demographics.
Another highlight of the weekend was the opening of the Oscar Nominated Short Films, a traditional four-week run that has been a ritual for 19 years. This year, the shorts, which include animated, live action, and documentary categories, managed to gross an estimated $765k on 375 screens for the three-day weekend and $915k for the four days. The breakdown of business tends to remain consistent every year, with animation accounting for 45%, live action 40%, and documentary 15%. Wes Anderson’s “The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar” is part of the live action strand this year, adding to the diversity of content available to audiences. The appeal of Oscar Shorts lies in its ability to draw from every demographic, making it a lucrative option for theaters during the Oscar Shorts season.
On a different note, the limited opening of “God & Country” from Oscilloscope Labs saw mixed results. Grossing $40.1k on 85 screens nationwide, the film explores the rise and threat of Christian nationalism. Despite sold-out and near sold-out shows in markets like Grand Rapids, Santa Cruz, Dallas, DC, and Nashville, the overall gross was impacted by lower ticket prices in rural and suburban areas. This limited success was further compounded by restrictive screening schedules, affecting the film’s reach. Oscilloscope remains optimistic about the film’s potential, citing strong support from religious organizations and churches across the country. They anticipate a surge in group sales and buyouts as word-of-mouth spreads, especially as the film heads deeper into the 2024 general election season.
Meanwhile, A24’s “The Zone Of Interest” continues to enjoy a solid run in the U.S. The film grossed an impressive $473.5k on 443 screens for a cumulative total of $6.86 million. Its international rollout, particularly in Poland, has garnered attention, with a special screening held at Auschwitz, where the film was shot. Director Jonathan Glazer’s work has received critical acclaim, becoming the highest-grossing film of his in the U.K. The film opened at number one in France and is on track to become one of the highest-performing titles for A24 in the country.
Specialty Holdovers and Success Stories
Other specialty holdovers like IFC Films’ “The Taste Of Things” and Neon’s “Perfect Days” have also seen positive results. “The Taste Of Things” reported an estimated three-day weekend gross of $600k and a four-day total of $700k in 505 theaters in its second week of release. With a cumulative total of $1.159k, the film is experiencing strong word of mouth and driving momentum across various theaters nationwide. “Perfect Days,” on the other hand, grossed $236k on just 34 screens in its second week, accumulating a total of $475k. Bleecker Street’s survival horror thriller “Out Of Darkness” is estimated to gross $348k in its second weekend on 865 screens, indicating a steady performance at the box office.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” has maintained its momentum as the highest-grossing limited opening release of 2023. With an estimated $900k for the three-day weekend on 680 screens in week 11 and $1.1 million for the four days, the film’s domestic total is expected to reach $32 million. Similarly, Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction” from Amazon MGM Studios is looking at $923k for the three days and $1.098 million for the four days on 800 screens in week 10, showcasing a cumulative total of $19.07 million. These success stories underscore the diverse range of films and genres that continue to captivate audiences and drive box office sales.