Searchlight Pictures’ latest film, “Poor Things,” directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, made a remarkable impact during its opening weekend. Playing at nine theaters across four markets, the film achieved an outstanding per-screen average of $72,000, resulting in an estimated three-day total of $644,000. This impressive performance places “Poor Things” as the fall season’s best limited opening on ten or fewer screens and ranks it among the top three openings of the year.
The success of “Poor Things” in terms of limited openings can be compared to other noteworthy films. Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” released by Focus Features, had an exceptional per-screen average of over $100,000 in six theaters in June. Another notable debut was A24’s “Beau Is Afraid” by Ari Aster, which earned $80,000 per screen at four locations last spring. Both films attracted significant attention and benefited from strategic activations such as takeovers of prestigious theaters. For “Poor Things,” director Yorgos Lanthimos and the film’s talented cast, including Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, and Ramy Youssef, engaged in sold-out Q&A sessions in New York City throughout the weekend.
“Poor Things” presents a fantastical feminist tale set in the Victorian era. According to exit polls conducted at the opening theaters, the film resonated particularly well with audiences under the age of 35, who constituted 70% of the viewers. The gender distribution skewed slightly towards male viewers, accounting for 56% of the audience. In terms of ethnicity, the viewers were predominantly Caucasian (62%), followed by Hispanic (17%) and East Asian/Pacific Islander (14%) audiences.
The reception of “Poor Things” has been overwhelmingly positive, with an excellent rating of 68% and a definite recommendation from 75% of the audience surveyed. More than half of the viewers expressed their enthusiasm to encourage others to see the film in theaters immediately. These positive sentiments were also reflected in reviews aggregator platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes, where “Poor Things” holds a certified fresh rating of 93%, and Metacritic, where it received a score of 88.
Following its successful limited opening, “Poor Things” will expand its reach to additional markets. In addition to its current locations, the film will debut in 17 new cities next week, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., Portland, Orlando, Toronto, and Vancouver. By December 22, the film is expected to cover approximately 80 markets, ensuring its availability to a wider audience.
“Poor Things” initially premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it received the prestigious Golden Lion award. This recognition, along with its inclusion in the American Film Institute’s top films of the year list, solidifies the film’s standing as a critical and artistic success. Searchlight Pictures, the distributor, has a history of producing award-winning films, having previously won Best Picture Oscars for “The Shape of Water” and “Nomadland.” The positive reception and accolades received by “Poor Things” suggest that it too could potentially be a strong contender in the upcoming awards season.