Saltburn, a dark-comedy film by Emerald Fennell, had an impressive box office debut, expanding from seven screens to 1,566. The Amazon/MGM production earned $1.73 million for the three-day weekend and $2.7 million for the five-day Thanksgiving frame. This success can be attributed to the film’s strong core group of theaters, particularly in the coastal regions, which generated 55% of its business. Out of the top 25 locations, 16 were in New York and California, with Alamo Drafthouses locations, arthouses, and “smarthouses” leading the way. Notably, the film’s top 500 theaters contributed to 68% of its total gross. The key markets for Saltburn include NYC, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Austin, Boston, Philadelphia, and Portland.
Saltburn follows the story of Oliver (Barry Keoghan), a student struggling to find his place at Oxford University. He is drawn into the world of the charismatic and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer that takes an unexpected turn. The film also stars renowned actors Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Archie Madekwe, Alison Oliver, and Carey Mulligan. So far, Saltburn has secured the 10th spot at the domestic box office, earning close to $3.1 million.
Holdovers from Focus Features, a film starring Paul Giamatti as a curmudgeonly New England prep school teacher, continued to perform well in the box office. In its seventh week after a slow rollout, the film earned $2.75 million for the three-day weekend, securing the 7th spot in the top ten. Over the five-day period, it grossed $3.75 million across 1,601 theaters. The film has received critical acclaim, evident from its A Cinema Score, 96% ranking with critics and 90% ranking with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as an overall positive response of 80% via Comscore exits. The audience for Holdovers is split almost evenly between males (51%) and females (49%).
A24’s dark comedy, Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage, had a strong showing in the box office. The film, directed by Kristopher Borgli, grossed $639.5k for the three-day weekend and approximately $743k for the five-day period in its third week. With a cumulative total of $1.387 million, Dream Scenario is set for a nationwide rollout starting December 1. The film revolves around a nerdy college professor who starts appearing in the dreams of random people.
Radical, a film distributed by Pantelion and Participant Media, and starring Eugenio Derbez as a dedicated teacher at a border town school, continued to perform consistently in its fourth week. The film earned $750.6k over the three-day weekend on 325 screens, adding to its total gross of $7.8 million. Radical features numerous teachers on screen and has gained positive attention for its portrayal of the educational system in a border town.
The newly released Monster from Well Go USA, directed by Kore-Eda, made an estimated five-day gross of $28k on two screens in New York City. This positive response indicates that cinema audiences, critics, and festival attendees appreciate the layers of beauty present in Monster. The distributor, Doris Pfardrescher, predicts a similarly strong response in other cities as the film expands to Los Angeles and Chicago on December 1, followed by additional markets starting on December 15.
Rialto Pictures decided to re-release the 4K restoration of Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom (1960), which made an estimated $6.5k in its opening weekend at NYC’s Film Forum. This re-release allows cinephiles to rediscover the classic film and experience it in a restored format.
Fallen Leaves, a romantic comedy by Aki Kaurismaki, winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes, earned $42.5k over the weekend on eight screens in NYC, LA, and San Francisco. As it expands to more markets, including Chicago, Washington DC, San Diego, Dallas, Denver, Austin, and Phoenix, Fallen Leaves is expected to continue its success. Finland has submitted it as their entry for the 2024 Academy Awards for Best International Feature.
IFC Films’ documentary, The Disappearance of Shere Hite, earned $2.5k over the three-day weekend on two screens in its second week, bringing its cumulative total to $20.8k. This thought-provoking film delves into the life and work of scholar Shere Hite.
This box office analysis highlights the impressive performance of Saltburn, the continued success of holdovers, and the positive response to newly released films like Dream Scenario and Monster. These films, along with their talented casts and captivating storytelling, contribute to the vibrant and diverse landscape of the box office. As the year comes to a close, audiences can look forward to more exciting releases and the exploration of various genres in the film industry.