Neon, a prominent independent film distributor, achieved significant success at the box office this past weekend. Their latest release, “Babes,” directed by Pamela Adlon, made an impressive jump from a limited 12-screen opening to a wide release on 590 screens. The film secured the ninth spot at the domestic box office with an estimated $1.06 million in three-day weekend earnings and a total cumulative gross of approximately $1.29 million. Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, “Babes” continued to perform well, bringing in around $1.23 million over four days and pushing its cumulative total to $1.46 million. The storyline of the film revolves around the evolving friendship between childhood best friends Eden and Dawn, played by Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau, respectively, as they navigate the complexities of adulthood. Co-written by Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz, the film has resonated with audiences and critics alike.
Neon’s “La Chimera,” directed by Alice Rohrwacher, also continued to draw audiences, earning $822k in its eighth week on 20 screens. The film, starring Josh O’Connor, has maintained steady momentum since its premiere at Cannes in 2023. Another notable indie film, A24’s “I Saw The TV Glow,” brought in an estimated $514k over the three-day weekend and $642k during the four-day holiday weekend on 458 screens. This 1990s-set coming-of-age film by Jane Schoenbrun has accumulated a cumulative total of nearly $2.79 million in its fourth week of release. A24’s “Civil War,” directed by Alex Garland, has also continued its successful run, earning $306k on 451 screens with a total cumulative gross of $68.1 million.
Amidst the ongoing success of these indie films, new releases have also made their mark on the box office. Marco Bellocchio’s “Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara” debuted in two NYC theaters, bringing in over $14k in the three-day weekend and approximately $18k during the holiday weekend. The film, which premiered at Cannes in the previous year, has garnered positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, setting the stage for a wider release in the coming weeks. “Kidnapped” tells the story of the abduction of six-year-old Edgardo Mortara by the Pope’s soldiers in 1858, sparking an international scandal and a battle for his release.
In addition to these new releases, several holdover films have continued to perform well at the box office. Sideshow/Janus Films’ release of Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Evil Does Not Exist” generated an estimated $100.9k over the three-day weekend and $123.9k over four days, with a cumulative total of $535k or more. Ethan Hawke’s “Wildcat,” distributed by Oscilloscope, earned around $79k in three days and $100.7k over four days, bringing its total cumulative gross to approximately $385k in its fourth week of release.
Overall, the indie film landscape is thriving, with a diverse range of films attracting audiences and generating positive word of mouth. The success of these indie films demonstrates the enduring appeal of unique storytelling and compelling performances in the world of cinema.