Indie Box Office Standout

In an exciting development for indie cinema, *A Real Pain* has emerged as a significant box office contender, posting the year's third-best per-screen average upon its release. This comedy, which boasts a talented cast including Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, has captured the attention of moviegoers amid a diverse indie slate, further showcasing the profound love affair between independent films and audiences this fall festival season.

Impressive Debut

Debuting with an impressive $240,000 across just four theaters, *A Real Pain* achieved a remarkable per-screen average of $60,000. This places it among the top indie releases of 2024, following closely in the footsteps of *Kinds of Kindness* by Searchlight Pictures and *Anora* from Neon. The film, which Eisenberg both wrote and directed, follows two cantankerous cousins on a road trip through Poland as they delve into their family history. It premiered at Sundance, winning the prestigious Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for Best Screenplay, further cementing its industry acclaim.

Other Indie Successes

Continuing to make waves, Neon’s *Anora*, directed by Sean Baker, has garnered around $1.9 million in its third weekend, marking a successful rollout for this Cannes Palm d’Or winner. With its total earnings nearing $3.95 million, *Anora* showcases the power of innovative storytelling in the indie movie landscape.

Other noteworthy performances in the specialty box office include *The Substance*, starring Demi Moore, which has sustained strong audience interest into its seventh week, grossing an estimated $476,000 across 339 locations for a cumulative total of $15.4 million. Additionally, *Dahomey*, an acclaimed documentary from Mati Diop, reported $13.2 million during its second weekend, indicating a solid reception for thought-provoking narratives in the indie sector.

Documentary Highlights

On the documentary front, *Luther: Never Too Much*, featuring Dawn Porter’s portrayal of a legendary musician, opened with an estimated $122,000 across nine screens in New York and Los Angeles. Similarly, the Cold War documentary *Soundtrack To A Coup d'État* by Johan Grimonprez began its run at the Film Forum in NYC to promising numbers, adding to its accolades with nominations for the Gotham Awards and several Critic's Choice Doc Awards.

Wider Releases Performance

In the wider releases segment, *Conclave*, starring Ralph Fiennes, held strong, dropping only 20% in its second weekend while raking in $5.3 million across nearly 1,800 theaters, bringing its total to $15.2 million. This film continues to resonate particularly well with older audiences, especially in East Coast markets such as Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Boston.

A24's romance flick *We Live In Time*, featuring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, has also performed commendably, with a cumulative total approaching $17.7 million after four weeks. Meanwhile, Liam Neeson’s *Absolution*, backed by Samuel Goldwyn Films, opened to an estimated $1.42 million across over 1,500 screens.

Godzilla's Strong Re-Release

Lastly, Toho International's re-release of the blockbuster *Godzilla Minus One* continues to perform well, adding $510,000 in its latest weekend, with a cumulative total now approaching a staggering $57 million since its original release.

Conclusion

The indie film landscape is thriving, proving that innovative storytelling and strong performances resonate deeply with audiences, setting the stage for a dynamic season ahead.