Neon Studios has had a successful weekend both internationally with a Cannes Palme d’Or winner, “Anora,” and domestically with the indie hit “Babes.” “Babes,” directed by Pamela Adlon, made a great leap from a 12-screen opening to 590 screens, ranking no. 9 at the domestic box office. The film raked in an estimated $1.06 million over the three-day weekend and has accumulated around $1.29 million. Including the Memorial Day holiday, the total gross reaches $1.23 million and a cumulative total of $1.46 million. The story follows childhood best friends Eden (Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau) navigating adulthood and the challenges that come with it. Written by Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz, “Babes” is a heartfelt exploration of friendship and self-discovery.
La Chimera, an Italian fable about Etruscan grave robbers directed by Alice Rohrwacher and distributed by Neon, continues to perform well, grossing $822k in its eighth week on 20 screens. Another indie success story is A24’s “I Saw The TV Glow,” a coming-of-age film set in the 1990s by Jane Schoenbrun. The film is estimated to have made $514k over the three-day weekend and $642k over the four-day holiday period on 458 screens. With a cumulative total of $2.79 million in its fourth week, “I Saw The TV Glow” has found an audience with its unique storytelling and engaging characters.
Marco Bellocchio’s “Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara” made a promising start, grossing over $14k in two NYC theaters over the three days and $18k over the four days. The historical drama, which premiered at Cannes, has received critical acclaim and positive word of mouth from festival screenings. It is set to expand to more theaters in the coming weeks. In terms of holdovers, “Evil Does Not Exist” by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and “Wildcat” directed by Ethan Hawke have continued to perform well at the box office. “Evil Does Not Exist” grossed approximately $100.9k over the three-day weekend and $123.9k over the four days, with a cumulative total exceeding $535k. Meanwhile, “Wildcat” brought in an estimated $79+k over three days and $100.7k over four days, with a cumulative total of about $385k in its fourth week.
Indie films have been making a significant impact at the box office, proving that audiences are hungry for unique and engaging stories. With the success of films like “Babes,” “I Saw The TV Glow,” and “Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara,” indie filmmakers are finding an audience and making a mark in the film industry. As these films continue to attract attention and critical acclaim, it is clear that indie cinema is here to stay and will continue to thrive in the coming years.