Martin Scorsese’s period drama “Silence” leads the four-day indie box office with $131,000 from four theaters for the weekend’s top per screen average of $32,750.
Peter Berg’s drama “Patriots Day,” starring Mark Wahlberg, earned the No. 2 spot for the four-day holiday with a per screen average of $23,044 from seven locations for a total of $161,306.
Paramount’s critically acclaimed drama “Hidden Figures” wasn’t far behind, posting an impressive $20,620 per screen for a total of $515,499 from 25 locations.
All three films have received high marks from critics and awards season buzz.
“Hidden Figures” dramatizes a little known piece of history, staring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe as three brilliant African-American women who were NASA employees crucial for getting John Glenn into orbit. It was directed and co-written by Ted Melfi (“St. Vincent”).
“Patriots Day,” with John Goodman, J.K. Simmons, Michelle Monaghan and Kevin Bacon, retraces the dramatic details surrounding the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The CBS Films movie expands wide on Jan. 13.
Scorsese’s “Silence” stars Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver as 17th century Jesuit priests who risk violent ends, as they attempt to spread Catholicism in Japan.
Pedro Almodóvar’s Spainish drama “Julieta” made $91,906 from six locations for an average of $15,318.
Ben Affleck wrote, directed and stars in Warner Bros. crime drama “Live by Night,” which earned $33,000 from four theaters, representing a per screen average of $8,250.
Focus Features’ PG-13 fantasy drama “A Monster Calls,” also featuring Neeson, made only $30,910 from four locations for an average of $7,728 per theater.
Meanwhile, awards season darling “La La Land” continued to play strong in its third weekend, earning $5.7 million from 734 location.