Journal Desires starring Jonathan Majors is eyeing an estimated $700k weekend in 815 theaters, stable in NY, LA and a handful of city markets however beneath the $1 million Deadline hears the distributor had initially been hoping for given robust engagement on-line with the movie, which has a 91% verified viewers rating on Rotten Tomatoes (81% with critics).
The opening weekend miss for what was a really buzzy Sundance title again in 2023 a couple of troubled however formidable bodybuilder follows controversy round its star and comes at a tricky time for indie movies typically. Within the months after the movie premiered in Park Metropolis, Majors was discovered responsible of two misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment towards an ex-girlfriend.
Briarcliff’s documentary October 8 is an upside shock with a projected $250k weekend at 113 theaters — up 7% from final weekend’s opening at 14 few theaters. AMC Lincoln Sq. and Century Metropolis are prime grossers for the doc that explores the explosion of antisemitism within the U.S. after Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel. It’s received a stable $850k cume beginning week 2. Weekday showings had been close to or topped $100k every on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
A shock standout this weekend, Secret Mall Residence directed by Jeremy Workman and self-released by Wheelhouse Artistic, posted one of many highest per display openings for a documentary over the previous six years with an anticipated $40.5k at one unique engagement in Windfall, RI the place exhibits had been added to maintain up with demand. A mall goes up in downtown Windfall and a bunch of displaced renegade artists resolve to hunt revenge — by constructing their very own house contained in the stomach of the beast. The doc has nabbed audiences awards at SXSW (the place it premiered final yr), Scorching Docs and different festivals. Opens in New York on March 26 and provides theaters throughout Rhode Island 3/28 earlier than rolling out nationally in April, together with San Francisco on 4/4. Presently at 100% Contemporary on Rotten Tomatoes with 28 evaluations.
New average launch: The Avenue opened Sam Raimi-produced horror-thriller Locked at 964 areas to a debut weekend of $964k. Stars Invoice Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins.
IFC Movies debuted SXSW-premiering sci-fi horror Ash to $717k on 1,136 screens. By director Flying Lotus, written by John Remmler, starring Eliza González and Aaron Paul.
New restricted releases: Bob Trevino Likes It from Roadside Points of interest opened to $58k on 5 screens (4 U.S., 1 Canada) with an A+ cinema rating. It’s at 94% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes (35) evaluations. Starring Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo, the double Jury and Viewers Award winner from final yr’s South by SXSW expands subsequent week to 75 screens in main markets, going wider on April 4.
“Each a comedy and a tearjerker [it] is the type of uplifting movie from the indie world — like our Peanut Butter Falcon — in 2019, that we’ve not seen in fairly some time. We’re very excited seeing it begin to catch on and are anticipating a enjoyable rollout,” stated Roadside co-president Howard Cohen
Sideshow/Janus Movies’ launch of Misericordia the newest from Strangers By The Lake author/director Alain Guiraudie, opened to $25k on 3 screens in NY and LA. Premiered at Cannes and performed the Telluride, Toronto and New York Movie Festivals. Guiraudie is on a five-city tour with the movie, which expands all through March and April. Opening in Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Miami and Nashville and increasing in NY/LA markets subsequent week.
Kino Lorber opened Being Maria by Jessica Pauld Friday at NYC’s Quad Cinema, the place it grossed an estimated $6.3k. The Cannes 2024 choice tells the story of Maria Schneider and the making of Bernado Bertolucci’s 1972 arthouse sensation Final Tango In Paris with Marlon Brando. Expands to LA subsequent week, further markets April 4.
Indies within the prime ten: The Black Bag from Focus Options is at no. 2 in week 2 ($14.9 million cume); The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Film by Falling Ahead Movies is not any. 7, additionally in week 2 ($6.45 million cume); Neon’s The Monkey is sticking round at no. 8 in week 5 ($37.9 million cume); and The Final Supper from Emick rounds out the highest in week 2 ($5.3 million cume).
