Over the weekend, Magnolia Pictures’ Thelma raked in an impressive $2.2 million across 1,280 screens, marking it as the distributor’s widest release so far. Despite featuring a 93-year-old star, the film managed to attract a broad audience proving that age is just a number when it comes to captivating storytelling. With a mix of humor and poignancy, Thelma wowed audiences with standout performances from June Squibb, Parker Posey, and Fred Hechinger. The film played well in various markets, from New York to Los Angeles, and is expected to continue drawing in older theatergoers during the week.
Searchlight Pictures’ Kinds of Kindness had a stellar debut, earning an impressive $70k per screen average at five theaters in LA and NY, totaling $350k overall. This makes it the highest per-screen average and best overall limited opening of the year so far. The Yorgos Lanthimos film, featuring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons in a triptych of stories, surpassed expectations with multiple sold-out screenings in top-tier theaters. The film is set to roll out to approximately 500 theaters next week, with a wider release planned for July 3 on over 1,000 screens.
In addition to Thelma and Kinds of Kindness, other indie films made their mark at the box office this weekend. Jeff Nichol’s The Bikeriders from Focus captured audiences’ attention, grossing an impressive $10 million on 2,642 screens. Vertical’s The Exorcism, starring Russell Crowe, also performed well with $2.4 million on 2,240 screens, marking it as the distributor’s widest release and biggest opening to date. A24’s Janet Planet, the directorial debut of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker, had a strong start on two screens in NYC, grossing an estimated $49.7k with multiple sold-out Q&As.
The indie box office landscape is alive and thriving with a mix of compelling storytelling and standout performances. From Thelma’s intergenerational appeal to Kinds of Kindness’ limited release success, indie films continue to capture the hearts of audiences across various markets. As these films expand their reach and continue to screen in theaters nationwide, the indie box office is set for an exciting and promising future.