While new release Minions dominated the box office, and Jurassic World, Inside Out, and Terminator: Geni$y5 filled out the top 4, there were a lot of notable indies making box office news that should grab your attention.
In its opening week in America, the Bollywood feature Baahubali: The Beginning stirred up $3.5m making its way onto the top 10. Despite a hefty 2hr 40min runtime, Baahubali: The Beginning still pulled a phenomenal $15k per theater average at 236 theaters. Baahubali: The Beginning is the first part of a two part epic film that follows Baahubali (The Man with Strong Arms) as he winds his way through live to find himself embroiled in a civil war. Currently, the two part film is, collectively, the most expensive film from India to date, costing nearly $40m.
Three films about LGBTQ characters were also released with varying results. Tangerine, the most vital and human movie, was released in just four theaters (NY/LA) to a reportedly $16k per theater average. Sean Baker’s latest feature, created on an iPhone, went on the hunt for a huge per screen average, hunted down Baahubali, and is fighting for its dignity. Determined to divide its audience as much as it divides its topic, Do I Sound Gay? opened in a single theater in New York, gathering $11k, but is also currently streaming on all cable networks. In another hesitant start, Robin William’s final film, Boulevard opened in a single theater in New York, intending to roll out to other large markets over the coming weeks. In the face of two other LGBTQ-themed films opening in New York City, Boulevard still managed to make a fairly respectable $7k.
Amy Winehouse’s Amy delved into more markets this week, expanding to 341 theaters, and scored a cool $1.8m, raking in a solid total for documentaries. Amy‘s success is only eclipsed by Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, released earlier this year and due out for a re-release after the HBO run is finished.