‘Lowriders’ Cruises To $2.4M; Diane Lane’s ‘Paris’ Charms – Specialty Box Office

So-Cal car culture went into gear this weekend with the debut of BH Tilt’s Lowriders by Richard de Montreuil. The feature opened in 295 theaters, grossing $2.4M, but the highest PTA of the weekend goes to Sony Pictures Classics’ Paris Can Wait, which opened in four locations, grossing almost $102K. Amazing Studios/Roadside Attractions opened The Wall in 541 theaters taking in over $891K, and Roadside took The Wedding Plan to two locations grossing $19,605. TWC widened 3 Generations, but had a slow second round with three dozen runs grossing $21K, while IFC Films brought Chuck to 39 theaters, grossing $79,170. Neon’s Risk went to 45 theaters, taking in just over $36K.

Eva Longoria, Demián Bichir and Gabriel Chavarria star in BH Tilt’s Lowriders, turning the spotlight on Southern California’s car culture in 295 theaters. Directed by Ricardo de Montreuil, the feature took in $2.4M, averaging $8,180. The title follows the story of Danny, a talented young street artist caught between the lowrider world inhabited by his old-school father and ex-con brother and the adrenaline-fueled outlet that defines his self-expression.

BH Tilt said earlier this week that it expected the title to come in at $750K – 1.2M. That was likely a conservative estimate, but it nevertheless did park at double that, averaging $8,180. The audience was was split 53% male/47% female and skewed 58% 25 and older, and “primarily Hispanic,” according to the distributor.

“We’re happy because it over-performed its opening,” said BH Tilt’s John Hegeman. “The movie clearly connected with the audience, and we’re going to expand the footprint where it’s working.”

But SPC’s Paris Can Wait gets bragging rights for the weekend’s best per theater average. Starring Diane Lane, the feature opened in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles grossing $101,825, averaging a solid $25,456. “It’s a breath of fresh air,” said SPC’s Michael Barker this week. “It’s the kind of movie people want to see if they are looking to escape the harsh realities of life. It’s about stopping to breathe the air, drinking great wine, eating great food and appreciate being in this great [part of the world].” Paris Can Wait will roll out in additional cities going into June.

Amazon Studios/Roadside Attractions bowed The Wall in 541 theaters Friday. The title starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena grossed $891,590, averaging a slow $1,648. Roadside also opened Israeli romantic-comedy The Wedding Plan in two U.S. locations grossing $19,606, for a more robust $9,802. The film also opened in seven Canadian locations, but figures from there weren’t given as of Sunday morning.

With an exclusive debut, Abramorama opened The Last Shaman, grossing just north of $7K.

TWC added 31 runs for 3 Generations in its second weekend. In a total of 37 theaters, it grossed just $21,185, averaging a slow $573. Last weekend, it averaged $3,353 from six runs and a $20,118 gross. Faring a bit better was IFC Films’ Chuck, which played an additional 35 runs in its second frame. Chuck grossed $79,170 in 39 locations, averaging $2,030. It has cumed over $121K.

NEW RELEASES

The Last Shaman (Abramorama) NEW [1 Theater] Weekend $7,040

Lowriders (BH Tilt) NEW [295 Theaters] Weekend $2,400,000, Average $8,180

Paris Can Wait (Sony Pictures Classics) NEW [4 Theaters] Weekend $101,825, Average $25,456

The Wall (Amazon Studios/Roadside Attractions) NEW [541 Theaters] Weekend $891,590, Average $1,648

The Wedding Plan (Roadside Attractions) NEW [2 Theaters] Weekend $19,605, Average $9,802

RETURNING/SECOND WEEKEND

3 Generations (The Weinstein Company) Week 2 [37 Theaters] Weekend $21,185, Average $573, Cume $46,421

Chuck (IFC Films) Week 2 [39 Theaters] Weekend $79,170, Average $2,030, Cume $121,170

The Dinner (The Orchard) Week 2 [429 Theaters] Weekend $245,864, Average $573, Cume $1,152,318

The Lovers (A24) Week 2 [23 Theaters] Weekend $140,553, Average $6,111, Cume $229,375

Risk (Neon) Week 2 [45 Theaters] Weekend $36,095, Average $802, Cume $143,193

HOLDOVERS / THIRD+ WEEKENDS

Bang! The Bert Berns Story (Abramorama) Week 3 [4 Theater] Weekend $4,187, Average $1,047, Cume $23,847

Citizen Jane: Battle For the City (IFC Films) Week 4 [20 Theaters] Weekend $32,400, Average $1,620, Cume $191,600

Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent (The Orchard) Week 4 [19 Theaters] Weekend $13,027, Average $686, Cume $139,933

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (Abramorama) Week 5 [16 Theater] Weekend $20,202, Average $1,263, Cume $191,392

Norman: The Moderate Rise & Tragic Fall Of a New York Fixer (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 5 [153 Theaters] Weekend $409,732, Average $2,678, Cume $1,606,608

A Quiet Passion (Music Box Films) Week 5 [116 Theaters] Weekend $199,306, Average $1,718, Cume $766,280

All These Sleepless Nights (The Orchard) Week 6 [2 Theaters] Weekend $66, Average $33, Cume $20,556

Colossal (Neon) Week 6 [160 Theaters] Weekend $115,003, Average $767, Cume $2,718,986

Their Finest (EuropaCorp Films/STXfilms) Week 6 [258 Theaters] Weekend $290,000, Average $1,128, Cume $2,900,000

Truman (FilmRise Releasing) Week 6 [9 Theaters] Weekend $6,500, Average $722, Cume $176,848

Donald Cried (The Orchard) Week 11 [1 Theaters] Weekend $265, Cume $61,298