Specialty Box Office: ‘Last Days in Vietnam’ Scores Strong Debut; ‘Boyhood’ Hits $20 Million
Six films hit the marketplace this weekend, with Rory Kennedy’s doc “Last Days In Vietnam” leading the pack with a very nice limited debut. It was also a weekend of more good news for IFC Films, with “Boyhood” hitting $20 million and “The Trip To Italy” passing the $1 million mark (with a lot more to come).
The Debuts:
Debut Winner of the Weekend: “Last Days in Vietnam”
Rory Kennedy’s very well reviewed documentary — which combines footage from the final weeks of the Vietnam war with contemporary recollections of people who were there — got off to a very nice start for distributors American Experience and PBS Films. Its $15,225 average (form 2 theaters) is one of the best for a documentary this year, putting it close to the likes of recent doc hits “20 Feet From Stardom” ($18,199 average) and “Blackfish” ($15,192 average). The film will open next week in DC, followed by LA, Boston and Philadelphia on September 19th. That expansion will be the true test for “Vietnam,” but so far, so good.
This Weekend’s Debuts: (ranked in order of per-theater-average)
1. Last Days in Vietnam (American Experience/PBS Films)
Week: 1
Weekend Gross: $30,459
Theaters: 2
Per-Theater-Average: $15,225
Total Gross: $30,450
Criticwire Average: A
2. But Always (China Lion)
Week: 1
Weekend Gross: $140,000
Theaters: 19
Per-Theater-Average: $7,368
Total Gross: $140,000
Criticwire Average: N/A
3. God Help The Girl (Amplify)
Week: 1
Weekend Gross: $12,800
Theaters: 2
Per-Theater-Average: $6,400
Total Gross: $12,800
Criticwire Average: B-
4. Kelly & Cal (IFC Films)
Week: 1
Weekend Gross: $99,500
Theaters: 1
Per-Theater-Average: $6,000
Total Gross: $6,000
Criticwire Average: N/A
5. Memphis (Kino Lorber)
Week: 1
Weekend Gross: $4,000
Theaters: 1
Per-Theater-Average: $4,000
Total Gross: $4,000
Criticwire Average: B-
6. No No: A Dockumentary (IFC Films)
Week: 1
Weekend Gross: $20,074
Theaters: 10
Per-Theater-Average: $2,007
Total Gross: $20,074
Criticwire Average: B+
The Holdovers:
Holdover Winners of the Weekend:
“Boyhood” and “The Trip To Italy.” IFC Films continued the winning streak of Richard Linklater and Michael Winterbottom’s latest films. “Boyhood” grossed another $1.4 million in weekend #9 — dropping just 7% and taking it past the $20 million mark. Its total now stands at $20,718,000, with another $10 million or so not out of the question given how well it’s still performing. Though those kind of numbers aren’t likely in the future for “The Trip To Italy,” it’s holding up very nicely in its own right. The Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon sequel to “The Trip” hit 84 theaters (up from 52) and took in another $349,000, pushing it to a $1,174,000 total. At this point, the film seems likely to pass the $2,030,962 that the 2011 film “The Trip” grossed.
Notable Milestones:
- “Boyhood” hit $20 million, as noted above.
- “A Most Wanted Man” crossed the $15 million mark in its 7th weekend.
- “Magic in the Moonlight” hit the $9 million mark in its 7th weekend.
- “The Trip To Italy” crossed the $1 million mark in its 4th frame, and should at least double that in weeks to come.
The Holdover Top 10: (ranked in order of per-theater-average)
1. Love Is Strange (Sony Pictures Classics)
Week: 3
Weekend Gross: $285,000
Theaters: 44 (up from 27)
Per-Theater-Average: $6,477
Total Gross: $840,000
Criticwire Average: A-
2. The Trip To Italy (IFC Films)
Week: 4
Weekend Gross: $349,000
Theaters: 84 (up from 52)
Per-Theater-Average: $4,155
Total Gross: $1,174,000
Criticwire Average: B+
3. Cantinflas (Pantelion/Lionshate)
Week: 2
Weekend Gross: $1,030,000
Theaters: 429 (up from 382)
Per-Theater-Average: $2,401
Total Gross: $4,757,000
Criticwire Average: D
4. Boyhood (IFC Films)
Week: 9
Weekend Gross: $1,411,000
Theaters: 775 (up from 640)
Per-Theater-Average: $2,344
Total Gross: $20,718,000
Criticwire Average: A
5. The Last of Robin Hood (Samuel Goldwyn)
Week: 2
Weekend Gross: $131,000
Theaters: 77 (up from 2)
Per-Theater-Average: $1,701
Total Gross: $175,000
Criticwire Average: B-
6. A Most Wanted Man (Roadside Attractions)
Week: 7
Weekend Gross: $621,000
Theaters: 421 (up from 333)
Per-Theater-Average: $1,475
Total Gross: $15,958,000
Criticwire Average: B
7. The One I Love (RADiUS-TWC)
Week: 3
Weekend Gross: $105,000
Theaters: 72 (up from 49)
Per-Theater-Average: $1,458
Total Gross: $309,000
Criticwire Average: B+
8. Life of Crime (Roadside Attractions)
Week: 2
Weekend Gross: $45,200
Theaters: 32 (down from 37)
Per-Theater-Average: $1,413
Total Gross: $202,200
Criticwire Average: B-
9. Magic In The Moonlight (Sony Pictures Classics)
Week: 7
Weekend Gross: $720,000
Theaters: 530 (up from 438)
Per-Theater-Average: $1,358
Total Gross: $9,272,000
Criticwire Average: B
10. What If (CBS Films)
Week: 5
Weekend Gross: $180,000
Theaters: 136 (down from 197)
Per-Theater-Average: $1,324
Total Gross: $3,285,000
Criticwire Average: B+
Peter Knegt is a contributing editor at Indiewire and our box office columnist. Follow him on Twitter.
