‘Beach Rats’ Seduces In Debut, ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day 3D’ Starts Slow – Specialty Box Office

UPDATED with more details: Neon opened its Sundance Film Festival 2017 title Beach Rats from Eliza Hittman in three locations, grossing a cool $45,000 this weekend at the specialty box office. The opening was a bright spot in a weekend that has traditionally been a tough one at the specialty box office, coming at the end of the summer season ahead of the fall awards hopefuls.

Oscilloscope bowed French-Russian dance drama Polina in two locations, grossing $13,250, while FIP headed out with its latest Bollywood title, A Gentleman, in 135 theaters for a $195K weekend.

Opening somewhat quietly was James Cameron’s 3D remastered version of his 1991 sci-fi action pic Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The title hit 386 theaters Friday, roughing up more than $582K in its three-day estimate, averaging $1,509 per screen.

Gravitas Ventures added a run for California Typewriter in its second weekend, holding well with a $16,336 gross. Samuel Goldwyn Films expanded Gook to two dozen locations in its second frame, taking in $75,734, while Fox Searchlight took Patti Cake$ to 59 runs, for a flat $105K Friday to Sunday. Neon expanded Ingrid Goes West to 647 theaters, holding well at nearly $782K for the three days, while A24’s Good Time played 721 locations, grossing nearly $611K. Both films now have reached seven figures.

Beach Rats doesn’t boast big stars, and the Sundance debut was directed by a second-time feature filmmaker, but the title clearly resonated. The film grossed $45K in three theaters in New York and L.A., averaging $15,003, by far the best per theater average of the weekend —
though of course Beach Rats played far fewer runs than many titles reporting.

Starring up-and-comer Harris Dickinson who plays an aimless teen who balances time between his delinquent friends and picking up older guys online, was No.1 at each of its engagements at the Arclight in L.A. as well as the Sunshine and the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York, according to Neon, which said Sunday the film particularly found support from the younger art house and gay audiences.

The company also lauded its reviews and marketing material, which highlighted the fact it’s a “sexy film” in propelling its debut. Beach Rats also had a boost from Barry Jenkins, director of last year’s Oscar Best Picture winner Moonlight.

Neon will continue to roll out Beach Rats slowly in the next couple weeks, adding locations in New York and L.A. while opening a couple additional select markets. It will head to major markets later in September.

Oscilloscope’s opened Valérie Müller and Angelin Preljocaj’s dance drama Polina in two locations Friday. Starring Anastasia Shevtsova and Juliette Binoche, the film grossed $13,250 for a $6,625 PTA. Oscilloscope said the title’s early grosses were “an encouraging start” and that it expects positive word-of-mouth to propel the title as it expands around the country heading into fall. Said the company’s Andrew Carlin earlier this week: ““Anyone with even a passing interest in ballet or contemporary dance will want to seek this one out.” Molina will bow at the Nuart in L.A. next weekend.

Both FIP’s A Gentleman and Terminator 2: Judgment Day 3D played far more theaters in their debuts, though they were still limited. Distrib Films US handled distribution for James Cameron’s restoration of his 1991 classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The latest manifestation opened in 386 theaters Friday (exclusively AMC locations), grossing an estimated $582,300 this weekend — averaging $1,509 per location. That stands in the huge shadow of Cameron’s remastered Titanic 3D, which was also a wide release. Its first weekend in April 2012, Titanic 3D grossed $17,285,453 in 2,674 theaters, averaging $6,464. Still, T2’s latest manifestation in theaters does have social media momentum. Distrib Films US said it has “around 4M fans” on Facebook.

FIP’s A Gentleman, meanwhile, grossed $195K in 135 locations, averaging $1,444. No word on expansion plans for the title as of Sunday.

Some second-weekend titles maintained momentum as they added locations. Gravitas Ventures’ California Typewriter added one run in its second frame, grossing $16,336 in two theaters. Of that total, $12,443 came from Lincoln Plaza in New York; the pic debuted the weekend prior at Metrograph in New York.

“We are thrilled Director Doug Nichol’s labor of love and insightful documentary California Typewriter is being well received by critics and fans alike,” said Laura Florence, VP Marketing & Sales, on Sunday. The title will head to Los Angeles next Friday and continue to roll out to additional markets later in September.

Crown Heights expanded to 10 theaters from its initial three in its second weekend. The title grossed $32,800, averaging $3,280. In its debut, the Amazon Studios/IFC Films release grossed $27,552, averaging $9,184. It has cumed $69,812.

Samuel Goldwyn Films’ Gook had last weekend’s top debut with a $31,100 gross in two theater. This weekend, the title moved to 24 runs, taking in $75,734, averaging $3,156. It has cumed $109,678.

FilmRise added four locations for Marjorie Prime in its second frame. In 10 theaters, it grossed $23K. The title took in $24K the weekend prior, averaging $4K. The title’s two-week cume is $53,890.

Searchlight’s Patti Cake$ jumped to 59 theaters in Week 2 from its launch in 14 locations. The title continued to struggle, grossing $105K, averaging $1,780. Patti Cake$ grossed $66K last weekend, averaging $4,714. Its cume is now $197,394. Searchlight’s documentary Step, meanwhile, is closing in on $1M. In its fourth weekend, the Sundance title grossed $66K, averaging $559 in 118 locations, placing its cume at $972,590.

Neon’s Ingrid Goes West, which it picked up out of Sundance earlier this year, went from just 26 runs to 647 in its third frame. Starring Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen, the title took in $781,750, averaging $1,208. The feature grossed $265,567 last weekend, averaging $10,214. Ingrid Goes West has now cumed $1.32M.

A24 also jumped Good Time in its third weekend from just 20 runs to 721 this weekend. Starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Josh and Benny Safdie (the latter who also stars in the film), the title grossed $610,890 averaging $847 placing its cume just over seven figures at $1.029M. Good Time grossed $173K in its 20 locations last weekend, averaging $8,652. A24’s Menashe, meanwhile, is moving close to seven figures. The title grossed $172,510 in 103 theaters, averaging $1,675 for a cume of $973,593.

And Columbus by filmmaker Kogonada and starring John Cho is maintaining momentum in its fourth weekend. This is notable because it is a self-released title through the Superlative Films/Depth of Field label, which received guidance through Sundance Institute’s Creative Distribution Fellowship. In 22 locations, the film grossed $68,680, averaging $3,122 giving it a cume of $242,727.

NEW RELEASES

Beach Rats (Neon) NEW [3 Theaters] Weekend $45,008, Average $15,003

A Gentleman (Fox International Productions) NEW [135 Theaters] Weekend $195,000, Average $1,444

Polina (Oscilloscope) NEW [2 Theaters] Weekend $13,250, Average $6,625, Cume $13,250

Terminator 2: Judgment Day 3D (Distrib Films US) NEW [386 Theaters] Weekend $582,300, Average $1,509

RETURNING/SECOND WEEKEND

California Typewriter (Gravitas Ventures) NEW [2 Theaters] Weekend $16,336, Average $8,168, Cume $21,442

Crown Heights (Amazon Studios/IFC Films) Week 2 [10 Theaters] Weekend $32,800, Average $3,280, Cume $69,812

Gook (Samuel Goldwyn Films) Week 2 [24 Theaters] Weekend $75,734, Average $3,156, Cume $109,678

Marjorie Prime (FilmRise) Week 2 [10 Theaters] Weekend $23,000, Average $2,300, Cume $53,890

Patti Cake$ (Fox Searchlight) Week 2 [59 Theaters] Weekend $105,000, Average $1,780, Cume $197,394

HOLDOVERS / THIRD+ WEEKENDS

Good Time (A24) Week 3 [721 Theaters] Weekend $610,890, Average $847, Cume $1,029,354

Ingrid Goes West (Neon) Week 3 [647 Theaters] Weekend $781,750, Average $1,208, Cume $1,321,500

The Only Living Boy In New York (Amazon Studios/Roadside Attractions) Week 3 [289 Theaters] Weekend $175,627, Average $607, Cume $385,856

The Trip To Spain (IFC Films) Week 3 [56 Theaters] Weekend $132,048, Average $2,358, Cume $284,048

Columbus (Superlative Films/Depth of Field) Week 4 [22 Theaters] Weekend $68,680, Average $3,122, Cume $242,727

Step (Fox Searchlight) Week 4 [118 Theaters] Weekend $66,000, Average $559, Cume $972,590

We Love You, Sally Carmichael! (Purdie Distribution) Week 4 [10 Theaters] Weekend $5,625, Average $562, Cume $91,835

Wind River (The Weinstein Company) Week 4 [2,095 Theaters] Weekend $4,410,610, Average $2,105, Cume $9,840,823

Brigsby Bear (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 5 [94 Theaters] Weekend $30,118, Average $320, Cume $458,773

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power (Paramount Pictures/Participant Media) Week 5 [127 Theaters] Weekend $80,000, Average $630, Cume $3,325,000

Menashe (A24) Week 5 [103 Theaters] Weekend $172,510, Average $1,675, Cume $973,593

The Fencer (CFI Releasing) Week 6 [5 Theaters] Weekend $11,874, Average $2,375, Cume $37,658

Landline (Amazon Studios/Magnolia Pictures) Week 6 [30 Theaters] Weekend $15,300, Average $510, Cume $896,113

Lady Macbeth (Roadside Attractions) Week 7 [41 Theaters] Weekend $19,650, Average $479, Cume $1,052,909

The Little Hours (Gunpowder & Sky) Week 9 [26 Theaters] Weekend $21,408, Average $823, Cume $1,550,538

The Big Sick (Amazon Studios/Lionsgate) Week 10 [706 Theaters] Weekend $745,000, Average $1,055, Cume $39,127,805

Lost In Paris (Oscilloscope) Week 11 [16 Theaters] Weekend $19,000, Average $1,188, Cume $535,645

Maudie (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 11 [96 Theaters] Weekend $91,051, Average $948, Cume $5,781,011

The Hero (The Orchard) Week 12 [37 Theaters] Weekend $15,498, Average $419, Cume $4,023,748

Love, Kennedy (Purdie Distribution) Week 13 [8 Theaters] Weekend $2,840, Average $355, Cume $382,135