‘CatVideoFest’ Lands On Its Feet (Why The Dog Version Flopped); ‘Talk To Me’ Tops $22M As ‘Shortcomings’, ‘Passages’ Debut – Specialty Box Office
06.08.2023 - 21:51
/ deadline.com
CatVideoFest, which is just what it sounds like, joined notable indie debuts and festival favorites Shortcomings and Passages, the re-release of Shiva Baby and juggernaut Talk To Me in another weekend of varied specialty fare, both new and holding over. Indies are helping drive a buoyant box office. They’re also waiting for the Barbenheimer tsunami to recede as bit as these unusual blockbusters vacuum up the arthouse/adult audiences.
Sony Pictures Classics said Sundance favorite Shortcomings by Randall Park grossed an estimated $316.4k at a 404 locations. Written by Adrian Tomine, the comedy stars Justin Min as Ben, a struggling filmmaker in Berkeley, California, along with Ally Maki and Sherry Cola. SPE co-president Michael Barker said the edgy romcom is attracting a young and diverse audience and word of mouth is strong.
Hollywood strikes, which prohibit promotion by actors, have made opening films more complicated, although Barker said the thesps had already done quite some press before the work stoppage. “It would have been difficult to change the dates,” he told Deadline, and “it’s a perfect summer film.”
Mubi’s Passages by Ira Sachs will clear an estimated $64k+ on three screens in NY and LA for a per screen average of $21.36k. This is among the top openings for the year at all three — IFC Center, Film at Lincoln Center and the Landmark Nuart – and it’s Mubi’s biggest theatrical launch after Decision To Leave last October ($90k+ opening on three screens for a $30.2k PSA). The romantic drama, which stars Franz Rogowski (Great Freedom), Ben Whishaw (Women Talking) and Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue Is the Warmest Color), expands to another dozen markets (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia, Phoenix,