Neon had a successful weekend at the box office with the expansion of the indie film “Babes.” Directed by Pamela Adlon, the film follows the story of childhood best friends Eden and Dawn, played by Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau, as they navigate the complexities of adulthood. The film made an estimated $1.06 million over the three-day weekend, reaching a cumulative total of approximately $1.29 million. With the Memorial Day holiday included, the gross approached $1.23 million and a cume of $1.46 million. This success comes on the heels of Neon's other film, “La Chimera,” directed by Alice Rohrwacher, which is at $822k in week 8 on 20 screens. The film, starring Josh O'Connor, continues to attract audiences and generate revenue for the studio.
A24's Strong Showing with ‘I Saw The TV Glow'
A24's indie film “I Saw The TV Glow” also had a strong weekend at the box office, with estimated earnings of $514k for the three-day weekend and $642k for the four-day holiday weekend on 458 screens. The film, set in the 1990s and directed by Jane Schoenbrun, follows a queer coming of age story that has resonated with audiences. With a cumulative total near $2.79 million in week four, “I Saw The TV Glow” continues to attract viewers and receive positive feedback from critics and audiences alike.
New Openings and Holdovers
In addition to the success of Neon and A24, other indie films have made an impact at the box office. Marco Bellocchio's “Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara” opened to positive reviews and solid word of mouth. The historical drama, which premiered at Cannes a year ago, made over $14k in two NYC theaters for the three days and about $18k for the four days. With an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is set to expand to more markets in the coming weeks.
As for holdovers, Sideshow/Janus Films' release of Ryusuke Hamaguchi's “Evil Does Not Exist” and Oscilloscope's “Wildcat,” directed by Ethan Hawke, both continued to perform well at the box office. “Evil Does Not Exist” grossed an estimated $100.9k on 138 screens for the three-day weekend and $123.9k for the four days, with a cume of $535k+. Meanwhile, “Wildcat” brought in an estimated $79+k over three days and $100.7k over four, with a cume of about $385k in week 4.
Overall, the recent box office success of indie films like “Babes,” “I Saw The TV Glow,” and “Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara” demonstrates the growing appeal of unique and independent storytelling. As audiences continue to seek out diverse and engaging content, these films are carving out a space for themselves in the competitive world of cinema.