It’s a week until Oscars and contenders (see full list) are out in force adding screens ahead of March 2. A Chinese and an Indian film hit the top ten this weekend, testament to the ongoing importance of foreign films/alternative content at the U.S. box office that exhibitors have been touting this corporate earnings season. Becoming Led Zeppelin powers on and Universal Language has a nice expansion.
Chinese New Year juggernaut Ne Zha 2 from CMC Pictures sits at no. 5 spot in week two with $3.1 million on 785 screens and a North American cume of $14.85 million. Last week, it became the highest grossing animated film of all time at the global box office topping $1.7 billion and leader Inside Out 2.
Chhaava, the Hindi historical action epic from Yash Raj Films is no. 9 with a $1.5 million three-day gross at 385 theaters and a $4.8 million cume, also in week 2.
Becoming Led Zeppelin, the hybrid documentary-concert film from Sony Pictures Classics, rings up $993k on 940 screens in week 3 for a cume of $7.4 million.
Oscilloscope Labs is seeing an estimated box office of $46k for Matthew Rankin’s Universal Language in week 2 on 24 screens from 2 for a cume of $97.2k.
New: Quiver Distribution opened the action film Cleaner, starring Daisy Ridley and directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) on 378 screens to an estimated $426k.
Greenwich Entertainment premiered Griffin Dunne-starring Ex-Husbands to $11k on screen. The dramady by Noah Pritzker expands to 135 screens next weekend. Premiered at the Hamptons Film Festival, see Deadline review.
In week 4, No Other Land, Oscar-nominated for Best Documentary Feature, is looking at a $96k weekend, doubling its screen count from 27 to 54 for a cume of $419.7k. Will expand through February and March. The highest grossing Oscar nominated doc so far took Best Documentary at yesterday’s Independent Spirit Awards.
Nominees making a push (assembled with help from Comscore): Searchlight Pictures’ Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown took in $750k at 730 locations — unchanged — in week 9 for a cume of $72.3 million.
I’m Still Here from SPC, now in week 6 at 762 theaters (up by 293), is eyeing a $445.9k gross and a $4.26 million cume.
The Brutalist from A24 is on 501 screens (up by 153) in week 10 taking in $353k for a cume of $15.1 million.
Universal’s Wicked, at 482 locations (up 126) in week 14, grossed $210k for a $472.8 million cume.
Focus Features’ Conclave now in weekend 18 saw 455k at 443 (up by 243) theaters for a cume of $32.2 million.
Sean Baker’s Cannes-winning Anora, which cleaned up at the Indie Spirits, is on 408 (up 190) screens for a $115k weekend and a $15.6 million cume in week 19.
