The second weekend in theaters proved to be a breakthrough for MGM’s teen comedy “Bottoms” and A24’s horror film “Talk To Me.” Both films experienced significant success at the box office, surpassing expectations and capturing the attention of audiences across North America. Let’s delve into the factors that contributed to their achievements and examine the potential reasons behind their popularity.
“Bottoms” managed to secure a coveted spot among the top ten films for the weekend, claiming the seventh position. The film’s success can be attributed to its expansion from a 10-theater opening to 715 screens in just one week. This leap in screen count contributed to an estimated $3 million gross over three days and $3.6 million during the four-day Labor Day holiday. These impressive figures indicate a positive trajectory for the film, with plans to expand to approximately 1,200 screens in the coming weekend.
A24’s “Talk To Me” left a lasting mark as the studio’s highest-grossing horror movie to date. The film, directed by Australian brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, has amassed an estimated cumulative total of $44.575 million over the four-day weekend. This surpasses the previous record set by “Hereditary,” which earned $44.069 million. The film’s substantial success since its late July release cemented its position as the distributor’s most successful debut since Ari Aster’s 2018 film.
The unexpected success of “Bottoms” lies in its ability to resonate with audiences beyond the traditional markets of New York and LA. The raunchy comedy, centered around two queer high school girls, far exceeded expectations when it transitioned into suburban areas. MGM reported that the film’s exit scores consistently exceeded industry norms, with 91% of viewers giving it high ratings. Furthermore, 86% of audiences stated that they would highly recommend it to others. The broad base of support for the film covered both suburban and urban areas, attracting a young demographic, with 80% falling into the 18-34 age bracket. 48% of viewers were between the ages of 25 and 34, indicating broad appeal within the target demographic. The film’s social buzz and organic word-of-mouth played a crucial role in driving ticket sales, causing it to generate one of the highest volumes of social conversation for any comedy released in recent years.
Analyzing the weekend performance of “Bottoms,” we observe a breakdown of gross box office earnings. The film earned $1.3 million on Friday, followed by $875,000 on Saturday, $832,000 on Sunday, and $582,000 on Monday. These numbers highlight a consistent level of viewer interest throughout the weekend, with the film maintaining a steady flow of ticket sales.
Apart from “Bottoms” and “Talk To Me,” several other specialty films also made an impact at the box office. Bleecker Street’s “Golda,” starring Helen Mirren, earned an estimated $769,723 over three days and $971,647 over four days on 791 screens. This film accumulated a total cume of $3.38 million. “For The Hill,” starring Dennis Quad, distributed by Briarcliff, grossed an estimated $1.44 million over three days, showing only a 38% decrease from the previous weekend. Its four-day gross amounted to $1.91 million, resulting in a total cume of $5.2 million.
While there is limited data available for the new releases this weekend, one notable film is Vertical’s “The Good Mother,” featuring Hilary Swank and directed by Miles Joris-Payrafitte. The film reported a three-day cumulative gross of $304,000, which increased to $367,000 over the four-day period. With a release on 419 screens, it remains to be seen how “The Good Mother” will fare in the coming weeks.
The successes of “Bottoms” and “Talk To Me” reflect the unpredictable nature of the film industry. Despite initial doubts about their appeal beyond major markets, both films managed to captivate audiences from diverse backgrounds. With “Bottoms” set to expand to even more screens and “Talk To Me” solidifying its place as A24’s highest-grossing horror film, it is evident that these movies have tapped into a collective interest and struck a chord with viewers. The box office numbers provide a promising outlook for the future, leaving filmmakers and distributors eager to replicate this level of success in their future endeavors.
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