Oscar Boost Sends ‘Anora’ Soaring in Post-Awards Box Office

Sean Baker’s “Anora” surged to No. 7 with a notable expansion following its Oscar wins, grossing $1.86 million over the weekend. Neon has five indie films in the top ten, with “The Monkey” and other new releases drawing significant interest. The overall box office demonstrates a strong indie film presence this week.

In an exhilarating post-Oscar boost, Sean Baker’s film “Anora,” distributed by Neon, celebrated its success by expanding to over 800 screens, earning an estimated $1.86 million over the weekend. After 21 weeks in theaters, its total gross has reached $18.45 million, solidifying its position at No. 7, amidst a thriving indie film landscape.

Neon’s other film, “The Monkey,” continues to shine in its third week, sitting at No. 4 with a cumulative earnings of $31 million. Additionally, “Rule Breakers” from Angel Studios made a noteworthy entrance at No. 9 with $1.59 million from 2,044 screens, while “In The Lost Lands,” based on a George R.R. Martin story, debuted at No. 10 with $1.04 million.

Neon has made significant strides in boosting its theatrical presence this year, seeing strong performances in variety of markets including New York, Los Angeles, and across the South and West. The independent film wave is evident, with five indie films now in the top ten for the first time in history.

Focus Features’ “The Last Breath” is holding its ground at No. 3 with a cumulative gross of $14.7 million from 3,090 screens. A handful of new openings, including IFC Films’ R-rated horror flick “The Rule of Jenny Pen,” debuted with $263,000 from 878 theaters, featuring renowned actors Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow.

Not to be overshadowed, the baseball comedy “Eephus” from Music Box Pictures managed only $21,100 from two select screens, but is receiving rave reviews following its Cannes debut.

A24’s “On Becoming A Guinea Fowl” by Rungano Nyoni started strong with $13,400 at four venues, exploring a Zambian family’s secrets. Utopia’s avant-garde film “The Visitor” by Bruce LaBruce opened in NYC and Toronto with a modest $11,400 across just four showings, appealing to audiences searching for cutting-edge, independent cinema.

In holdover news, “RIFF RAFF” from Roadside Attractions generated approximately $342,600 in its second weekend, making for a cumulative total of $1.66 million across 833 screens.

The box office landscape this week reflects a vibrant indie film scene, particularly highlighted by “Anora” post-Oscar triumph. Both new and continuing films showcase the diversity and creativity thriving in theaters, with Neon making historic strides. This week marks an extraordinary moment for indie movies, capturing audiences’ imaginations across a range of narratives and genres.

Original Source: deadline.com