The latest release by The Avenue, ‘Land of Bad’, has made a significant impact at the box office, grossing an impressive $1.8 million on 1,120 screens. The film, powered by Variance, managed to secure a spot in the top ten for the weekend, with strong word of mouth leading to a 37% increase in Saturday grosses compared to Friday. The total estimate for the four-day weekend stands at $2.07 million. Starring Russell Crowe and Liam and Luke Hemsworth, ‘Land of Bad’ is resonating most with audiences on the West Coast and in the heartland/Midwest regions. Suburban theaters have seen the most substantial growth from Friday to Saturday, indicating a positive reception among viewers.
Another noteworthy release this weekend is the Oscar Nominated Short Films, which have kicked off their traditional four-week run. This annual event, showcasing animated, live action, and documentary shorts packaged into feature-length films, managed to gross an estimated $765k on 375 screens for the three-day weekend, with a total of $915k for the four days. The breakdown of viewership by category tends to remain consistent year over year, with animation accounting for 45% of the business, live action 40%, and documentary 15%. Notable in this year’s lineup is Wes Anderson’s ‘The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar,’ adding to the allure of the event for audiences of all demographics.
A new limited release, ‘God & Country’ from Oscilloscope Labs, hit screens nationwide this weekend, grossing $40.1k on 85 screens. While the film, directed by Dan Partland and produced by Rob Reiner, saw sold-out and near sold-out shows in various markets such as Grand Rapids, Santa Cruz, Dallas, DC, and Nashville, its overall gross was affected by lower ticket prices in rural and suburban areas. Oscilloscope Labs remains optimistic about the film’s future performance, especially considering the support it has received from churches and religious organizations around the country. With plans for group sales and buyouts to strengthen as word-of-mouth spreads, ‘God & Country’ aims to make a substantial impact leading up to the 2024 general election.
Continuing its successful run in the U.S., ‘The Zone Of Interest’ from A24 achieved a gross of $473.5k on 443 screens, bringing its cumulative earnings to $6.86 million. The international rollout of this Holocaust film by Jonathan Glazer has garnered significant attention, with a recent screening at Auschwitz marking its launch in Poland. The film has become the highest-grossing title by Glazer in the U.K., where it received multiple BAFTA awards, including Outstanding British Film and Film Not In English Language. With a top placement in France, ‘The Zone Of Interest’ is on track to become one of A24’s most successful releases in the country.
In addition to the new releases, several specialty films continued their successful runs over the weekend. IFC Films’ ‘The Taste Of Things’ by Tran Anh Hung reported an estimated three-day weekend gross of $600k and a four-day total of $700k. With a surge of 69% from Friday to Saturday, the film is seeing strong word of mouth driving its momentum. Similarly, Neon’s ‘Perfect Days’ from Wim Wenders grossed $236k in its second week on just 34 screens, indicating strong viewer interest. Bleecker Street’s survival horror thriller ‘Out Of Darkness’ by Andrew Cumming is estimated to bring in $348k in its second weekend on 865 screens.
The recent film releases have had a varied impact on the box office, with each offering a unique viewing experience for audiences. From high-octane action in ‘Land of Bad’ to thought-provoking narratives in ‘God & Country’ and ‘The Zone Of Interest,’ the diverse range of films has catered to a wide spectrum of moviegoers. As these releases continue to make waves at the box office, it’s clear that the film industry is alive and thriving with innovative storytelling and compelling performances.