Key Highlights
- Nuremberg starring Russell Crowe had a strong opening with $4.15 million at 1,802 locations.
- Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier debuted strongly on four screens in New York and LA for a per-theater average of $50k.
- Indie distributors see a great weekend for independents with various films performing well in the specialty box office.
Saturday’s Box Office Highlights: A Boost for Independent Cinema
The specialty box office witnessed a remarkable surge over the weekend, particularly bolstered by the performances of Nuremberg and Sentimental Value. These films not only demonstrated strong box office numbers but also underscored the continued vigor of independent cinema in the current market landscape.
Nuremberg: A Historical Thriller That Resonates
Nuremberg, the latest historical thriller from Sony Pictures Classics, directed by James Vanderbilt, made a splash with an impressive opening of $4.15 million across 1,802 locations. The film stars Russell Crowe as the former Reichsmarschall Herman Göring and Rami Malek as U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley. Produced during a time when there is significant public interest in World War II events, the film resonated well with audiences, showing strong box office performance across various demographics and regions.
“It’s a history that people are interested in,” says Michael Barker, co-chair of Sony Pictures Classics. “And an important picture for the times we are in.” The film’s success is further highlighted by its strong word-of-mouth and the positive response it garnered from screenings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Sentimental Value: A Grand Prix Winner That Delivers
Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, which won the Cannes Grand Prix, also had a successful debut. The film opened on four screens in New York and Los Angeles, grossing $200,000 for a per-theater average of $50,000. This performance was particularly noteworthy as it marked the best PTA for a foreign language film since pre-COVID days.
Elle Fanning’s starring role in Sentimental Value, alongside an ensemble cast including Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård, contributed to its strong opening. The film is already showing signs of a promising run, with Neon’s chief distribution officer Elissa Federoff expressing optimism about the trajectory: “Joachim Trier’s emotional storytelling, impeccable craft, and the ensemble’s exceptional performances have truly connected with audiences.”
Indie Cinema Flourishes Despite Competition
While the market was crowded, indie distributors reported a positive weekend for independent films. The overall sentiment in the industry is upbeat as several notable films from smaller distributors performed well. For instance, Bugonia continued its run with an estimated $3.5 million over the weekend, bringing its total domestic gross to $12.3 million.
The specialty box office also saw a successful opening for Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsey and starring Jennifer Lawrence in a career-defining role.
The film opened with $2.83 million on 1,983 screens, despite facing stiff competition from other releases.
These performances highlight the resilience of independent cinema during a season that is often dominated by larger studio releases. The success of films like Nuremberg and Sentimental Value suggests that there remains a strong appetite for high-quality, thought-provoking content among moviegoers, even in the face of crowded schedules.
As the moviegoing season continues, all eyes will be on how these films perform over the coming weeks. The specialty box office has proven to be fertile ground for independent cinema, offering a platform for diverse storytelling and artistic expression that often gets overshadowed in mainstream releases.
