A24’s “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and Amazon/Roadside Attractions’ “Wonderstruck” were the big winners at the indie box office this weekend, with both drawing in big numbers from four-screen releases in Los Angeles and New York.
“The Killing of a Sacred Deer” led the way this weekend with $114,585, good for a per screen average of $28,646. The psychological horror film stars Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman as a couple whose lives are invaded by a fatherless teen (Barry Keoghan) who begins to corrupt and take over their house. The film is directed by “The Lobster” filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, who co-wrote it with Efthymis Filippou and produced with Ed Guiney. The film has a 75 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Wonderstruck” tells the story of two children born 50 years apart (Oakes Fegley and Millicent Simmonds), who run away from home in search of something dear to them. Todd Haynes directed the film from a script by Brian Selznick, who wrote the 2011 novel in which the film is based. The film made $68,762 for a PSA of $17,190 and has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 69 percent.
Another film that performed well this weekend was National Geographic/Abramorama’s “Jane,” a documentary about the life and career of famed primate researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall. It made $55,712 from three screens for a PSA of $18,571.
Among holdovers, Fox Searchlight’s “Goodbye Christopher Robin” made $147,000 in its second weekend after expanding to 61 screens. A24’s “The Florida Project” passed the $1 million mark in its third weekend with $636,615 from 117 screens, pushing its total to $1.37 million. Good Deed’s “Loving Vincent” also crossed the $1 million mark in its fifth weekend, making $391,974 from 114 screens for a $1.3 million total. Finally, Focus Features’ “Victoria & Abdul” nears $15 million after making $2.1 million in its fifth weekend.