"The Way, Way Back” is to a fast start at the specialty box office.
The coming-of-age tale from from writer-directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash brought in an impressive $525,000 in its debut in 19 theaters over the weekend. That’s a $30,263 per-screen average, the best of any film in release this weekend.
Fox Searchlight acquired the film, which stars Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell and newcomer Liam James, at this year’s Sundance film festival. It’s the tale of a 14-year-old (James) forced to go on summer vacation with his mother (Collette), her overbearing boyfriend (Carell) and his daughter (AnnaSophia Robb), who finds a pal in a waterpark manager (Rockwell).
Also read: 'The Way, Way Back' Is Way, Way Good, Critics Say
"We are pleased with the opening numbers for the film and it appears that we may be appealing to a wide spectrum of moviegoers," Fox Searchlight sr. vice-president Frank Rodriguez said. "This is a film that will have you laughing but could also make you shed a tear or two, and there is no doubt that you will appreciate the fine acting by this ensemble, and the great writing by Nat and Jim."
The film will expand into 13 additional markets next weekend, adding around 75 more theaters as Searchlight move towards the national release on July 26.
Millennium Entertainment rolled out its R-rated romantic comedy "Stuck in Love” in 21 theaters and it took in an estimated $38,135 for a soft $1,816 per-screen average.
The R-rated romantic comedy stars Greg Kinnear, Kristen Bell, Lily Collins, Jennifer Connelly and Logan Lerman, in 21 theaters this weekend.
Writer-director Josh Boone makes his feature debut with "Stuck in Love.” Kinnear plays a novelist who can’t stop obsessing over his ex-wife (Connelly) while dealing with his neighbor-with-benefits (Bell) and fiercely independent collegiate daughter (Collins).
The documentary “20 Feet From Stardom” expanded from 44 to 89 theaters and took in $510,133 for a strong $5,735 per-screen average.
Director Morgan Neville’s look at the lives of backup singers crossed the $1 million mark in its fourth week for the Weinstein Company’s Radius label.
Also crossing the million-dollar mark was CBS Films' "The Kings of Summer." It added three theaters to up its count to 51 and grossed an an estimated $95,000. That's a 12 percent gain from last weekend and a per-screen average of $1,863. Its domestic total now stands at $1.08 million.