The Telugu sci-fi epic, Kalki 2898 AD, has managed to defy expectations by holding strong in its second weekend at the box office. Despite opening against new competition, the film still managed to secure a spot in the top 10 for the second week in a row, a rare feat for Indian films. With a total gross of $16 million, Kalki has become one of the highest-grossing Indian films in North America in recent years. This success is particularly impressive considering the usual pattern of Indian films seeing the majority of their earnings in the opening weekend.
In addition to Kalki, other notable holdovers like Thelma and Kinds of Kindness have also continued to perform well at the box office. Thelma, distributed by Magnolia Pictures, added another $760K to its total gross on 620 screens in its third week of release. Meanwhile, Kinds of Kindness from Searchlight Pictures rounded out the top 10 on 920 screens in week 3, bringing in an estimated $860,000 for a cume of $3.8 million. These consistent earnings demonstrate the lasting appeal of these films to audiences.
On the flip side, the Hindi action film Kill faced mixed results in its opening weekend. Despite receiving rave reviews and garnering interest for an English-language remake by Lionsgate, the film failed to attract as big of an audience as expected. With a gross of $1.79 million on 827 screens, Kill fell short of expectations with the Indian diaspora and action genre fans. The film’s performance highlights the challenges of breaking into new markets and appealing to diverse audiences.
Finally, a new limited release film, Mother Couch by Niclas Larsson, made a modest debut at the box office. Starring Ewan McGregor, Rys Ifans, Ellen Burstyn, and Laura Flynn Boyle, the film grossed $9k in its opening weekend at the Angelika Film Center. While this may seem like a small figure compared to the blockbusters of the weekend, Mother Couch’s performance in the coming weeks in LA and other markets will determine its overall success.
Overall, the weekend box office saw a mix of surprises, holdovers, and new releases making their mark. While some films like Kalki and Thelma continued to impress with their earnings, others like Kill faced challenges in finding their audience. The industry continues to be unpredictable, with each film’s success dependent on a variety of factors including marketing, word-of-mouth, and audience preferences. As we head into the next weekend, it will be interesting to see which films rise to the top and which ones struggle to find their footing in an ever-changing market.
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