On Golden Globes weekend, two dark horse awards contenders expanded their theater count as NEON/30WEST’s “I, Tonya” added 200 screens, while STX’s “Molly’s Game” went nationwide to just over 1,600 screens.
For many of these films, including from smaller studios, the hope is that they will remain a steady presence at the box office through Oscar Sunday on March 4. “I, Tonya,” which is getting awards buzz for Margot Robbie and Allison Janney’s performances as figure skater Tonya Harding and her abusive mother LaVona, is on its way to a solid run with $2.4 million from 242 screens in its fifth weekend. That’s good for a $10,000 per screen average (PSA) and a total of $5.3 million.
“Molly’s Game,” meanwhile, made $7 million from its wide release to bring its total to $14.2 million. By comparison, Aaron Sorkin’s last film, “Steve Jobs,” made the same amount on its first weekend in wide release, but reached it on 2,493 screens. This means that “Molly’s Game” is getting more bang for its buck for STX, earning a PSA of $4,356 compared to $2,850 for “Jobs.”
Elsewhere, Fox’s “The Post” is keeping up its strong PSA leading up to its nationwide release next week. The film added $1.7 million from 36 screens this weekend for a $47,222 PSA and a $3.8 million total. Trackers have the film making an opening in the low $20 million range over the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.
Focus Features’ “Phantom Thread” starring Daniel Day-Lewis added $245,000 in its six-screen, 70mm engagement, keeping its PSA above $40,000 and bringing its total to $952,000. Focus’ other awards contender, “Darkest Hour,” added $6.3 million in its sixth weekend for a $28.4 million total.
Fox Searchlight’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” passed the $25 million mark in its ninth weekend, while fellow Searchlight release “The Shape of Water” crossed the $20 million mark with $3.1 million in its sixth weekend to bring its total to $21.6 million. A24’s “The Disaster Artist” is nearing the $20 million mark, bringing its total to $19.4 million in its sixth weekend. Finally, Sony Pictures Classics’ “Call Me by Your Name” added $758,726 from 117 screens to bring its total to $6 million.