The weekend proved to be significant for independent cinema, with films such as Pillion from A24 and Hamnet from Focus Features achieving impressive box office results. This success is notable given the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics, which typically capture audience attention during this time.
Pillion, directed by Harry Lighton and featuring actors Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, debuted on just four screens in New York and Los Angeles. It grossed an astonishing $241.8k, averaging $60.2k per location. This strong initial reception reflects its appeal. The film has already received accolades, including Best British Independent Film and Best Debut Screenwriter at the BIFAs. It is also nominated for Outstanding British Film and Best Adapted Screenplay at the BAFTAs. Pre-sales indicate high demand, and a wider rollout is anticipated next weekend.
Noteworthy performances from other indie films
Following closely, A24’s The Moment by Aidan Zamir saw a commendable second-week expansion, accumulating $1.7 million from 581 screens. This indicates a solid performance trajectory as the film continues to resonate with audiences.
Meanwhile, Neon’s Sirat, an Oscar-nominated feature, opened with a respectable $136.3k across four screens, averaging $34k per theater. Neon’s success with foreign language films is noteworthy, with titles like Arco, No Other Choice, and The Secret Agent contributing to this growth. Hamnet, in particular, stands out with a domestic gross of $21.8 million since its November launch, including $750k during the Super Bowl weekend.
GKids and unique releases
GKids marked its entrance into live-action narrative with Kokuho, which debuted in three locations across New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto, generating $47.2k. This film has achieved remarkable success in Japan, grossing over $125 million and becoming the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film ever. It is also nominated for an Oscar in the Best Makeup & Hairstyling category, further enhancing its profile.
Other independent films are also making their mark. For instance, A Poet from 1-2 Special estimated $51.8k from 33 locations in its second week, bringing its total to $91.4k. All That’s Left Of You from Watermelon Pictures surpassed the $400k mark in its fifth week, while The Love That Remains from Janus Films grossed approximately $15.7k on eight screens, totaling $47.2k.
Major debuts and event cinema
Among the more widely released indie films, Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience from Live Nation Studios opened at $5.56 million across 1,725 screens, securing the No. 4 spot at the box office. This marks the second-best debut for a K-pop concert film, trailing only the BTS release. Bleecker’s new event cinema label, Crosswalk, launched successfully with this release, prompting theaters to increase showtimes in response to the enthusiastic fan turnout.
Vertical’s Dracula, directed by Luc Besson, also had an impressive opening, grossing $4.5 million on 2,050 screens, setting a new record for the distributor. Notable films include Angel Studios’ Solo Mio, which debuted at No. 2, and Markiplier’s self-distributed Iron Lung, which continues to perform well in its second weekend.
Horror genre contributions
The horror genre made its presence felt with Whistle, released by IFC and Shudder, which grossed $720k from 1,200 screens in its opening weekend. This showcases the diversity available in independent cinema, even amidst significant mainstream distractions.
This weekend’s box office results underline the resilience and appeal of independent films in a competitive landscape, demonstrating that audiences are eager for varied cinematic experiences beyond mainstream offerings.