Anatomy of a Fall, the Palme d’Or winner at Cannes, made its theatrical debut in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco with a gross of $125,377. Directed by Justine Triet, the film stars Sandra Hüller as a German writer living a secluded life in the French Alps with her husband and son. The story revolves around the investigation into her husband’s death and her subsequent trial. Despite the dark subject matter, the film garnered attention and packed screenings at the New York Film Festival. With a per screen average of $25,075, Anatomy of a Fall had a solid limited opening and is set for a planned expansion next week.
While Anatomy of a Fall had a strong debut, there have been other recent limited releases that impressed audiences. Dicks: The Musical, a comedy, had a per screen average of $31.5k on seven screens. Dumb Money by Craig Gillepsie earned $27k per screen at eight locations last month. Emma Seligman’s Bottoms, released in August, achieved a per screen average of $51.6k on ten screens. These films demonstrate that limited releases can still attract audiences and generate buzz.
This weekend, many independent distributors exercised caution due to the release of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Some distributors chose to delay their releases, while others proceeded with a smaller scale. Two films executive produced by Steven Soderbergh released as planned, and despite the competition, performed reasonably well. Divinity, a black-and-white sci-fi film, premiered at the Regal Union Square in NYC and earned $6k. Divinity, distributed by Utopia, will expand to Los Angeles next weekend before a nationwide release on November 3. Godfrey Reggio’s Once Within A Time, another Soderbergh production, opened at New York’s IFC Center and grossed $12,250. Despite challenges such as limited showtimes and a non-traditional runtime of 52 minutes, the film still managed to captivate audiences. Once Within A Time will continue its expansion throughout October and November.
The Mission, a thought-provoking documentary directed by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, grossed nearly $30k on eight screens in New York and Los Angeles. The film explores the murder of American missionary John Chau as he attempts to make contact with an isolated Indigenous community on North Sentinel Island. Producers Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn of Lightbox contributed to the film’s success. The Mission generated lively discussions after screenings, including at Landmark’s Pasadena location, where it outperformed Taylor Swift on Friday. The documentary challenges viewers and offers an alternative cinematic experience.
In its second week of limited expansion, the musical comedy Dick’s The Musical from A24 grossed $94,677 on 15 screens, bringing its cumulative total to $354,180k. The film, directed by Larry Charles and featuring Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Megan Thee Stallion, will continue its nationwide rollout and expand throughout the fall. Joan Baez I Am A Noise, a documentary about the iconic singer’s life and career, earned $143k in its second week on 111 screens. The film attracted a younger audience, showcasing the timelessness of her music and message.
Anatomy of a Fall made a strong impression in limited release, joining the ranks of recent successful limited openings. Despite the competition from Taylor Swift’s tour, films like Divinity and Once Within A Time managed to hold their ground. The Mission, a thought-provoking documentary, also left a lasting impact on audiences. As these films continue to expand and captivate viewers, it is evident that limited releases still have a place in the cinematic landscape.