Three faith-based films from two independent distributors hit the top ten, a pair of Indian pics popped and traditional indies flexed at a rapidly improving box office.
Angel Studios’ The King Of Kings is looking at a $19 million weekend on 3,200 screens, its widest opening yet and the highest grossing debut of a faith-based animated film. The story of Jesus told by Charles Dickens to his young son topped the previous record holder, The Prince of Egypt from DreamWorks Animation back in 1998, for a no. 2 domestic box office berth.
Fathom Entertainment’s The Chosen franchise has its two latest installments in the top ten. Just released The Chosen: Last Supper (Season 5) Part 3 grossed $6 million on 2,296 screens at no. 6. And last weekend’s holdover The Chosen: Last Supper (Season 5) Part 2 nabbed $932k on 622 screens for an $11.4 million cume, rounding out the top ten. It’s the second double dip in a row as The Chosen: Last Supper Parts 1 and 2 both made the top ten last weekend.
As for The King Of Kings, it has an A+ CinemaScore and is 97% certified fresh with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes (vs a 63% critics’ score).
“The Angel Guild picks winners. Angel’s revolutionary idea is simple: know your audience – and listen to them,” said Brandon Purdie, Global Head of Theatrical Distribution & Brand Development at Angel, in a statement today. “The CinemaScore for The King of Kings says it all. The film is one of only 128 films to achieve an A+ CinemaScore, and only the 5th animated film to hold that title that isn’t a Pixar/Disney production. Families want quality films to see together in theaters. This weekend simply reflects what audiences are craving.” The circa 1-million member Angel Guild pays monthly dues and votes on films and TV content it wants the studio to pursue.
“Animation has been a key driver to the box office, with 4 of the top 10 box office films of 2024 being animated features, with crowds also responding to biblical narratives. According to The Numbers, previously, the top animated film releases in this genre are The Prince of Egypt which opened at $14.5M, and The Star and Jonah, which opened at $9.8M and $6.2M respectively,” Angel noted.
Moderate releases: Now in week 3, Focus Features’ The Ballad Of Wallis Island added 212 theatres in a big expansion to 253, earning $400k and a cume of $737k. The acclaimed film follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, Mortimer-McGwyer (Carey Mulligan and Tom Basden) back together. His fantasy quickly turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.
Vertical opened Michael Angarano’s Sacramento in 241 theaters to a solid $314k. Following the death of his father, energetic and free-spirited Rickey (Angarano) convinces long-time friend Glenn (Michael Cera) to go on an impromptu road trip from LA to Sacramento. Frustrated by Rickey’s Peter Pan complex, Glenn is encouraged by his pregnant wife Rosie (Kristen Stewart) to go on the adventure to reconnect. In the worn yellow seats of Glenn’s old college convertible, the two men confront their anxiety-ridden lives, addressing past mistakes and questioning what their futures hold.
Two entrants from Prathyangira Cinemas had a nice profile. Adhik Ravichandran’s thriller Good Bad Ugly opened at 599 locations to a weekend debut of $591k and a a domestic cume through Sunday (including previews) of $1.076 million. Jaat by Gopichand Malineni debuted to $277k at 500 theaters for a cume of $316k. (Stats for both as per Comscore).
Also new this week, Farah Nabulsi’s The Teacher, the first narrative feature from new label Watermelon Pictures, had a $20k debut, with multiple sold-out screenings at the Angelika in NYC. Pre-sales for Sunday had been tracking higher than Saturday numbers, indicating positive word of mouth, the distributor said. Opens at Landmark’s Nuart in LA next week along with the top 35 markets.
Holdovers: Bleecker Street’s The Friend is looking at a weekend gross of $621k at 1,008 locations in week three for a cume of $3.159 million.
Neon’s comedy-horror Hell Of A Summer is reporting $448.7k in week 2 on 968 screens for a cume of $2.9 million.
Blue Harbor Entertainment’s release of Levantine Films/Wayfarer Studios’ A Nice Indian Boy showed strong staying power in week 2 with an estimated $155k on 70 screens for a new cume of $401.5k. With strong word of mouth, the film by Roshan Sethi was up Friday (5%) and Saturday (2%) from opening first weekend. The film is 98% with critics and 99% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The highest grossing run this weekend goes to Boston’s Coolidge Corner coming in at over $21k for the weekend, with great holds or increases at key NYC, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle theaters.
Sony Pictures Classics’ The Penguin Lessons saw $154.9k in week 3 on 167 screens for a cume of $2.7 million.
Watermelon Pictures timely documentary The Encampments is at an estimated $66.5k on 48 screens in week 2 for a cume of $355k. Watermelon cited grassroots outreach and a push on social in conjunction with co-producers BT Media as it rolls out to the rest of the top 50 markets starting this Friday.
