The latest weekend box office results showcased the success of two specialty films in wide release, American Fiction and Poor Things. American Fiction landed at number 8, while Poor Things claimed the ninth spot. However, what makes these films truly remarkable is their achievement of being the highest-grossing limited opening releases of 2023.
Among the specialty films, The Zone of Interest stands out for its exceptional expansion. Despite being a foreign language film dealing with a heavy subject, it has been able to draw young audiences, thanks to A24’s marketing efforts. The film even took home the Film of the Year award at the London Critics’ Circle Awards, winning accolades for its director, music, and sound. This achievement is especially impressive considering the challenging nature of the film’s subject matter.
A Look at the Top Performers
Both American Fiction and Poor Things had a strong hold from the previous week, contributing to their success. However, it is worth noting that there have been other quiet periods in the post-Covid era where specialty films performed well. The unique factor this time is that multiple specialty films are consistently generating strong grosses week after week. Examples of these films include Saltburn, The Holdovers, and Anatomy of A Fall. Despite the overall challenges in the industry, it is evident that audiences are returning to theaters for a variety of films, providing hope for the future.
Poor Things and American Fiction’s Box Office Numbers
Searchlight Pictures’ Poor Things, starring Emma Stone and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, grossed an estimated $2.1 million. Although it experienced a 27% drop, the film performed well in its limited release across 1,950 theaters. This brings its total gross to approximately $28.2 million, making it the highest limited opening cumulative of 2023 releases. Similarly, American Fiction, a film by Cord Jefferson and produced by Amazon MGM, brought in an estimated $2.3 million from 1,902 screens, only experiencing an 11% decline compared to the previous week. With a cumulative total of $15 million, it is evident that audiences have shown interest in this film as well.
The Zone of Interest, which received five Academy Award nominations, grossed $1.1 million in its second week of limited nationwide expansion. With an increase in the number of screens from 300 to approximately 600, the film continues to perform strongly, especially in major markets like New York, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Its cumulative gross stands at close to $4.6 million, indicating a positive reception from audiences. Notably, more than half of the audience consists of individuals under 35, showcasing the film’s appeal to the younger demographic.
The Zone of Interest has gained recognition as a significant work on the Holocaust for this generation. Its unique story, centered around an Auschwitz commander and his family living in a villa next to the concentration camp, resonates with audiences, despite the horrors being heard rather than seen. In fact, the film was screened at the United Nations, further emphasizing its importance in raising awareness about the Holocaust. With upcoming screenings at various college campuses and positive word-of-mouth, it is expected that the film will attract a broader range of audiences, including the traditional and older demographics.
Other Notable Performers
Apart from the specialty films discussed above, there are other high-profile holdovers that have garnered attention. Searchlight Pictures’ All Of Us Strangers, directed by Andrew Haigh, has earned an estimated cumulative total of $3.5 million. The Holdovers, starring Paul Giamatti and distributed by Focus Features, has grossed approximately $19.8 million. Neon’s Anatomy of a Fall, released 17 weeks ago, has accumulated a domestic total of $4.4 million. These films demonstrate the sustained interest and success of quality cinema in the midst of studio releases and mainstream blockbusters.
New Openings and Future Prospects
Among the new openings, Mubi’s How To Have Sex grossed $52k at four theaters in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin. Molly Manning Walker’s highly acclaimed debut will expand to over a dozen new markets, including Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Portland, in the coming weeks. Additionally, Shree International’s Indian action film Warning 2 made its weekend debut at 103 locations, grossing $517.8k. These films represent the diverse range of cinema available to audiences, catering to various tastes and preferences.
The success of specialty films at the box office is a promising sign of the audience’s return to theaters and their interest in unique and thought-provoking storytelling. The performances of American Fiction, Poor Things, and The Zone of Interest highlight the potential for films from different genres and languages to make a considerable impact. As the industry continues to recover from the pandemic, it is hoped that this trend will persist, allowing for a more diverse and vibrant cinema landscape.