‘Weiner’ Top Doc Opener of the Year; ‘The Lobster’ Cracks $1M In 2nd Week: Specialty Box Office
Sundance Film Festival 2016 documentary winner Weiner topped the weekend’s new Specialty releases, and boasts the highest per theater average debut among non-fiction releases this year. The Sundance Selects release grossed $85,525 from five New York and Los Angeles locations this weekend. Sony Classics bowed Toronto debut Maggie’s Plan starring Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore, also in five theaters grossing $66,708, while Oscilloscope opened Spanish-language drama Ma ma starring Penélope Cruz exclusively at the Sunshine in New York taking in $9,466. Last week’s big limited release opener, The Lobster, continued its momentum in its second weekend with an expansion, as did Love & Friendship. And SPC’s The Meddler crossed $2 million in its 5th weekend amid a sizable move into more markets.
Sundance Selects opened Josh Griegman and Elyse Steinberg’s Weiner in 5 theaters with a solid start. The title, which won the documentary Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, grossed $85,525 in five theaters, giving it a $17,105 per theater average. The number ranks it in the top echelon of this year’s documentary debuts. The distributor’s own City Of God (released by IFC Films) opened in four theaters in March grossing nearly $63K for a $15,740 average its opening weekend. It has cumed nearly $612K in theaters to date. Michael Moore’s Where To Invade Next is the highest-grossing documentary of the year so far at just over $3.8 million. It opened in 308 theaters in February, however, averaging just under $3K. The year has yet to yield some of the more spectacular numbers in the non-fiction field of last year.
The Orchard’s Dior And I averaged $22,886 in two theaters in its April opener. It went on to gross just over $1 million. Magnolia’s The Wolfpack grossed $43,920 in its debut weekend, averaging $21,960, going on to cume jut over $1.3 million. Last year’s doc Oscar winner Amy opened in six theaters grossing $222,500 in its first weekend in early July, averaging $37,084. After picking up awards and accolades, it went on to cume over $8.4 million.
Sundance Selects noted that Weiner “sold out multiple shows in New York City” this weekend. That is probably not completely surprising considering politician Anthony Weiner, the personality at the center of the doc, represented a district in the city in Congress and twice ran for mayor (the latter run is depicted in this film).
“For me it’s one of the best documentaries about a political campaign I’ve ever seen. I can compare it to The War Room (1993),” said IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring speaking to me about the film earlier this month. “I find it amazing because of his hubris, but I also feel real empathy for him. I can’t say I felt that when it was all going on, but I felt it for him and for [his wife, Huma Abedin]. I think the filmmakers did an amazing job.” Sundance Elects will continue to roll out the film into the top 10 markets Memorial Day Weekend.
SPC opened Rebecca Miller’s Maggie’s Plan in five theaters grossing $66,708 for a $13,341 PTA, the third best overall for the week, though not exactly a spectacular start. The Toronto debut starring Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore outperformed Miller’s previous film The Private Lives of Pippa Lee in its debut weekend (that Screen Media release starring Robin Wright and Keanu Reeves averaged $7,496 though it bowed in a dozen locations, and went on to gross just $337K domestically). Her 2005 release The Ballad Of Jack and Rose with husband Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano opened in four theaters in March 2005, averaging $14,864. It went on to cume over $712K. Maggie’s Plan will platform out to additional theaters in the coming weeks.
Oscilloscope’s Ma ma directed by Spaniard Julio Medem and starring Penélope Cruz opened exclusively at the Sunshine in New York grossing $9,466. The film’s PTA — though in a single location — is higher than the director’s memorable Sex and Lucía, which averaged $6,798 though that bowed in seven theaters in North America back in 2002. The film, however, went on to cume nearly $1.6 million.
In its second weekend, A24’s The Lobster dined with robust numbers with 20 additional theaters. Starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, the film grossed $408K for a $17K average in two dozen locations, the weekend’s second-best overall and also crossing the title over the $1M threshold. A24, reporting numbers Sunday, said: “The film was very strong in it’s initial expansion across all markets, and in both arthouse and commercial theaters. With strong buzz, performances and reviews, the Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz unique relationship comedy seems to have tapped into the cultural zeitgeist, and will continue expanding heading in to the holiday weekend.”
Amazon and Roadside Attractions’ Love & Friendship expanded to 8 additional markets in its second frame. Directed by Whit Stillman, the feature grossed $585K in 47 theaters, averaging $12,383. The distributors noted Sunday that the film starring Kate Beckinsale and Chloë Sevigny still boasts a 99% on RT. Love & Friendship will have its first national expansion next weekend.
In its third frame, Searchlight added 102 theaters for A Bigger Splash. In a total of 128 theaters, the film grossed $338K ($2,641 average). Noted Searchlight’s Frank Rodriguez when reporting the film’s numbers this weekend: “Our expectation is that with the continued good reviews we will be able to generate more good word of mouth which will give the film some added traction as we head into the long Memorial Day Weekend.” A Bigger Splash will head to 60 new markets for the holiday weekend, bringing its total theater count to about 350 locations across North America.
IFC Films added 77 runs for The Man Who Knew Infinity in the film’s fourth weekend. The film grossed over $550K, averaging just over $2K, bringing its total to over $1.68 million. Roadside Attractions’ Hologram For The King crossed $4M in its fifth weekend. It grossed $65,860 in 138 theaters ($477 average). And the company’s Hello My Name Is Doris with Sally Field went over $14 million in its 11th weekend. The title grossed $115,525 ($745 average) in 155 theaters Friday to Sunday.
Sony Classics’ The Meddler continues to show zest in its fifth weekend with another expansion this weekend. Starring Susan Sarandon, the film played an additional 127 locations grossing $777,539 ($1,676 average) bringing the film just over $2M.
NEW RELEASES
Almost Holy (The Orchard) NEW [2 Theaters] Weekend $4,036, Average $2,018
Maggie’s Plan (Sony Pictures Classics) NEW [5 Theaters] Weekend $66,708, Average $13,341
Ma ma (Oscilloscope) NEW [1 Theater] Weekend $9,466
Weiner (Sundance Selects) NEW [5 Theaters] Weekend $85,525, Average $17,105
RETURNING/SECOND WEEKEND
Jimmy Vestwood: Amerikan Hero (Oky Doky Productions) Week 2 [6 Theaters] Weekend $36,926, Average $6,154, Cume $115,176
The Lobster (A24) Week 2 [24 Theaters] Weekend $408K, Average $17K, Cume $1,038,222
Love & Friendship (Amazon/Roadside Attractions) Week 2 [47 Theaters] Weekend $582,015, Average $12,383, Cume $780,348
HOLDOVERS / THIRD+ WEEKENDS
A Bigger Splash (Fox Searchlight) Week 3 [128 Theaters] Weekend $338K, Average $2,641, Cume $787,773
Dark Horse (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 3 [17 Theaters] Weekend $30,891, Average $1,817, Cume $83,023
Dheepan (Sundance Selects) Week 3 [10 Theaters] Weekend $23,200, Average $2,320, Cume $86,385
Elstree 1976 (FilmRise) Week 3 [2 Theaters] Weekend $850, Average $425, Cume $9,120
L’Attesa (Oscilloscope) Week 4 [2 Theaters] Weekend $1,700, Average $850, Cume $39,613
Dough (Menemsha Films) Week 4 [46 Theaters] Weekend $63K, Average $1,369, Cume $884,993
The Family Fang (Starz Digital) Week 4 [26 Theater] Weekend $15,335, Average $590, Cume $240,067
The Man Who Knew Infinity (IFC Films) Week 4 [271 Theaters] Weekend $550,131, Average $2,030, Cume $1,681,457
Compadres (Pantelion/Lionsgate) Week 5 [82 Theaters] Weekend $57K, Average $695, Cume $3,104,610
Hologram For The King (Roadside Attractions) Week 5 [138 Theaters] Weekend $65,860, Average $477, Cume $4,056,472
The Meddler (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 5 [464 Theaters] Weekend $777,539, Average $1,676, Cume $2,043,460
Sing Street (The Weinstein Company) Week 6 [520 Theaters] Weekend $350K, Average $673, Cume $2,489,745
Louder Than Bombs (The Orchard) Week 7 [10 Theaters] Weekend $1,393, Average $139, Cume $161,869
Eye In The Sky (Bleecker Street) Week 11 [198 Theaters] Weekend $168,424, Average $850, Cume $18,213,664
Hello My Name Is Doris (Roadside Attractions) Week 11 [155 Theaters] Weekend $115,525, Average $745, Cume $14,036,802
Marguerite (Cohen Media Group) Week 11 [6 Theaters] Weekend $3,123, Average $520, Cume $496,161
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