The success of Kalki 2898 AD in its second weekend at the box office is quite unusual in the Indian film industry. This Telugu sci-fi epic managed to hold its own among other big releases, climbing up to the No. 8 spot on 925 screens. It is interesting to note that Indian films typically make the bulk of their earnings in the opening weekend, but Kalki seems to be an exception to this trend. With a gross of $1.79 million and a cumulative total of $16 million, Kalki has emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian films in North America in recent times.
In contrast to Kalki, Kill, a Hindi action film that debuted alongside it, did not perform as well. Despite receiving positive reviews and garnering interest for an English-language remake by Lionsgate, Kill only managed to gross $384.5k on 827 screens. This suggests that the film failed to resonate with the Indian diaspora and action genre enthusiasts that distributor Roadside Attractions was targeting. The underperformance of Kill highlights the unpredictable nature of the specialty film market.
Meanwhile, Thelma and Kinds of Kindness have continued to maintain a steady presence in the top 10. Thelma, from Magnolia Pictures, brought in $760K on 620 screens in its third week, while Kinds of Kindness, from Searchlight Pictures, earned an estimated $860,000 over the same period. These consistent performances indicate that there is an audience for thought-provoking and unconventional cinema, even amidst the presence of big-budget blockbusters.
The new limited release, Mother Couch by Niclas Larsson, also showed promise with a strong debut at the Angelika Film Center, grossing $9k from a single engagement. The film, starring Ewan McGregor, Rys Ifans, Ellen Burstyn, and Laura Flynn Boyle, is set to open in Los Angeles next week, followed by other major markets. This suggests that there is still an appetite for independent and foreign films among cinephiles.
The specialty film market continues to be a mixed bag, with unexpected hits like Kalki 2898 AD and disappointments like Kill. However, the consistent performances of films like Thelma and Kinds of Kindness showcase the diversity and resilience of the industry. As new releases continue to enter the market, it will be interesting to see how audiences respond to different genres and storytelling styles.