Magazine Dreams Fails to Meet Expectations

The anticipated release of Magazine Dreams, featuring Jonathan Majors, is projected to earn approximately $700,000 during its opening weekend across 815 theaters. While the film has generated excitement in prominent urban areas such as New York and Los Angeles, it falls short of the $1 million mark that industry insiders had hoped for. The film currently holds a notable 91% verified audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, though its critical rating stands at 81%.

Controversy Surrounds Star

This opening comes in the wake of significant controversy surrounding its lead actor. Following the film’s debut at Sundance in 2023, Jonathan Majors was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment, which has affected public perception of the film during its release window.

Documentary Success: October 8

In contrast, October 8, a documentary exploring rising antisemitism in the United States, has surprised audiences with a projection of $250,000 over its second weekend, an increase of 7% from its initial release. The film is currently demonstrating strong box office performance, particularly at AMC Lincoln Square and Century City.

With a cumulative total of $850,000 after its second weekend, weekday screenings have also seen impressive earnings, with several weekdays grossing over $100,000.

Surprise Opening for Secret Mall Apartment

Secret Mall Apartment, directed by Jeremy Workman, has emerged as a standout with an extraordinary opening of $40,500 from a single screening in Providence, RI. The documentary showcases a group of artists who construct an apartment within a newly built mall. Having received audience awards at several festivals, it plans to expand to New York on March 26 and further nationally in April, currently holding a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

New Releases: The Avenue and Ash

The horror-thriller Locked, produced by Sam Raimi and featuring Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins, debuted to $964,000 across 964 locations. In the sci-fi horror genre, Ash, from director Flying Lotus and starring Eliza González and Aaron Paul, opened with an estimated $717,000 on 1,136 screens.

Limited Releases and Indie Highlights

Among the limited releases, Bob Trevino Likes It from Roadside Attractions opened to $58,000 from five screens, boasting an impressive A+ cinema score and a 94% approval rating from critics. Following a successful festival run, this film is set to expand its reach in the coming weeks.

Additionally, Misericordia, directed by Alain Guiraudie, started with a modest $25,000 on three screens while Being Maria, showcasing the life of actress Maria Schneider, grossed $6,300 in its opening at the Quad Cinema in New York City.

Indie Films in the Top Ten

Notably, several indie titles remain strong in the box office rankings:

• The Black Bag by Focus Features – 2nd place, $14.9 million cumulative
• The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie – 7th place, $6.45 million cumulative
• The Monkey by Neon – 8th place, $37.9 million cumulative in week five
• The Last Supper by Emick – rounding out the top ten with $5.3 million cumulative in week two