'Late Night' Shines in the Spotlight at Indie Box Office

Late Night Emma Thompson Mindy Kaling Cruela

Sundance Institute

Business picked up in a big way at the indie box office this weekend, as Amazon Studios/30WEST’s “Late Night” led a slew of new films in limited release.

Opening on four screens in Los Angeles and New York ahead of its wide release next weekend, “Late Night” grossed just under $250,000 this weekend for a per screen average of $62,414. That passes “Echo in the Canyon” and its $58,826 average from two weeks ago for the highest limited release PSA of 2019, and the second highest for any 2019 film this year behind the $76,601 average for “Avengers: Endgame.”

Also Read: 'Secret Life of Pets 2,' 'Dark Phoenix' Disappoint at Sequel-Loaded Box Office

Directed by Nisha Ganatra, “Late Night” is written by and stars Mindy Kaling as Molly Patel, a chemical plant engineer who finds herself thrust into the world of late night comedy after she is hired by veteran host Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) and tasked with making her show culturally relevant again. But that proves easier said than done, as Molly has to deal with the struggles of being a woman of color in a writers room dominated by white men. The film has an 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Also strong this weekend was A24’s “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” which opened on seven screens in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco and earned $230,744 for an average of $32,963, with A24 reporting multiple sellouts for screenings in San Francisco.

Written and directed by Joe Talbot in his directorial debut, “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” stars Jimmie Fails in a drama based in part on his own life. The film follows Jimmie in his attempts to reclaim the Victorian home build by his grandfather in San Francisco’s Fillmore District, even as the unstoppable surge of gentrification in the city threatens to push him out. The film premiered at this year’s Sundance to critical acclaim, earning a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Also Read: Mindy Kaling on Making 'Late Night': 'It Was Really F--ing Hard'

On the documentary front, NEON had a solid single screen opening for “This One’s for the Ladies,” grossing $16,000 at the Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem. Directed by Gene Graham, the film follows a community of black women in New Jersey who turn a karate dojo into a Thursday night club filled with exotic dancers. The film has mixed reviews with a 55% Rotten Tomatoes score from 11 reviews.

Also released this weekend was CBS Films’ “Pavarotti,” Ron Howard’s look back at the career and legacy of the iconic Italian opera singer. Releasing on 19 screens, the film earned $142,500 for a decent average of $7,500. The documentary has an 84% Rotten Tomatoes score. The other major music doc in theaters, Greenwich’s “Echo in the Canyon,” expanded to 43 theaters in its third weekend and grossed $205,337, bringing its total to just over $501,000.

29 Most Anticipated Summer Movies, From 'Long Shot' to 'Hobbs and Shaw' (Photos)

From "Detective Pikachu" to "Blinded by the Light," this summer has movies for just about every type of moviegoer.
"Long Shot" (May 3)

This rom-com pairing of Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen will have you laughing so much your stomach will hurt. Rogen plays a writer who gets hired by Theron during her tenure as Secretary of State -- but of course, romance gets the best of them.
Lionsgate
"Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" (May 3)

Zac Efron plays infamous serial killer Ted Bundy in Joe Berlinger's film, which debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. It is told from the perspective of Bundy's former girlfriend, played by Lily Collins.
Netflix
"Wine Country" (May 10)

Amy Poehler's feature directorial debut follows a group of friends who have an epic 50th birthday celebration for their friend in Napa. Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch and Tina Fey star -- so we're confident this is going to be one hilarious romp.

Netflix
"Detective Pikachu" (May 10)

Whether you lived through the era of Pokemon or not, you know it was a worldwide phenomenon. Pairing the cutest Pokemon of all with the voice of Ryan Reynolds seems like a home run.
Warner Bros
"John Wick: Chapter 3" (May 17)

The "John Wick" franchise has worked well for Lionsgate, and footage shown at CinemaCon of Halle Berry, Keanu Reeves and dogs (!) received roars and "Oh dang's!" from the audience. We're in a for a fun ride with this one.

Lionsgate
"Booksmart" (May 24)

Olivia Wilde's directorial debut has received praise since its premiere at SXSW. Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein play two high schoolers who decide to cram the social side of their entire high school experience (which they spent studying) into one epic night of partying. Jason Sudeikis, Billie Lourd and Will Forte also star.
Annapurna
"Aladdin" (May 24)

Disney has been consistently wowing audiences with their live-action adaptations of their famous IP. Although "Aladdin" had a little bit of a rough start when the first trailer debuted, the latest trailer brought many people around. "Aladdin" stars Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud, Billy Magnussen and Alan Tudyk.
Disney
"Brightburn" (May 24)

"Brightburn" offers a more sinister take on a Superman-like legend of a superpowered figure crash-landing on planet Earth, and it stars Elizabeth Banks, David Denman and Matt Jones.
Sony
"Rocketman" (May 31)

After the success of the Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody," this film about Elton John is highly anticipated -- especially because director Dexter Fletcher worked on both. "Rocketman" is expected to look at John's tumultuous life. Taron Egerton stars as the famous singer, alongside Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jamie Bell.
Paramount
"Ma" (May 31)

Octavia Spencer wanted to do something different after dramas like "Hidden Figures" and "The Shape of Water," and something different, she did. Spencer stars in this horror film as a woman who invites teenagers to drink in their basement -- before things take a strange turn.
Universal
"X-Men: Dark Phoenix" (June 7)

Jennifer Lawrence takes a back seat to Sophie Turner's Jean Grey in this "X-Men" spinoff, one of the last ones shot for Fox before its acquisition by Disney. The film also features Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Evan Peters -- and many, many more.
Fox
"Late Night" (June 7)

Mindy Kaling wrote and stars in "Late Night," which also made a huge splash at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year before it was acquired by Amazon for a whopping $13 million. Emma Thompson stars as a legendary talk show host who must revamp her image to make sure her show doesn't get canceled.
Amazon
"Men in Black: International" (June 14)

In this new iteration of the "Men in Black" franchise, we see Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth as agents who tackle the organization's biggest threat yet -- a mole. F. Gary Gray directs.
Sony
"The Dead Don't Die" (June 14)

Jim Jarmush directs this comedic horror film about zombies starring Chloe Sevigny, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Steve Buscemi and Selena Gomez.
Focus
"Shaft" (June 14)

Samuel L. Jackson returns as John Schaft II nearly two decades after the 2000 reboot of the 1971 blaxploitation movie. Jessie T. Usher stars as his son, an MIT grad and cyber security expert seeking to carry on the family's crime-fighting tradition.
Warner Bros
"Toy Story 4" (June 21)

It's been nine years since we saw "Toy Story 3" (and 24 years since the original film hit theaters), and Woody, Buzz, Jessie and Bo Peep are back! This movie will go back to its roots and focus on Woody again.
Disney
"Annabelle Comes Home" (June 28)

The "Annabelle" movies have proven a successful spinoff franchise of the "Conjuring" universe, and "Annabelle Comes Home" will be third iteration. This time, the cursed doll is put into the artifacts room of the Warrens for protection -- but of course, she gets out.
New Line Cinema
"Midsommar" (July 3)

"Midsommar" is Ari Aster's first film since "Hereditary," a film that horrified people across the nation. Florence Pugh, Will Poulter and Jack Reynor star in the film about a summer trip where things quickly take a horrific turn.
A24
"Spider-Man: Far From Home" (July 2)

After "Spider-Man: Homecoming's" successful run at the box office (the film grossed $880.2 million worldwide), Tom Holland will return as Peter Parker in "Far From Home." An added plus? Jake Gyllenhaal joins the cast as villain Mysterio.
"The Farewell" (July 12)

Awkwafina's "The Farewell" debuted to huge fanfare at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and was bought by A24 for $6 million-plus. Lulu Wang directs a story about a Chinese family that opts not to tell their beloved matriarch about her lung cancer diagnosis, instead scheduling an impromptu wedding reunion to give everyone the chance to say their goodbyes.
A24
"David Crosby: Remember My Name" (July 19)

A.J. Eaton directs this portrait of American singer-songwriter David Crosby, which debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival to huge praise.
Sony Pictures Classics
"The Lion King" (July 19)

In what might be one of the most anticipated movies of the year, Jon Favreau's live-action adaptation of the classic Disney tale stars huge names like Donald Glover, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keegan-Michael Key and Beyonce!
Disney
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (July 26)

Quentin Tarantino's new film follows a faded TV star (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double (Brad Pitt) who try to make it in Hollywood in 1969. Of course, that's the same time Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) was murdered by members of the Manson Family. The all-star cast also includes Al Pacino, Kurt Russell and Damian Lewis.
Sony
"Hobbs and Shaw" (August 2)

This "Fast & Furious" spinoff will focus on two of the best characters from the franchise: Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). Plus, we get a film that is directed by action master David Leitch and also stars Idris Elba, Eiza Gonzalez and Vanessa Kirby.
Universal
"Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" (August 9)

What would happen to you if you face your fears? Andre Ovredal's film, co-written by Guillermo del Toro, promises to be bonkers.
Lionsgate
"The Kitchen" (August 9)

Elisabeth Moss, Tiffany Haddish and Melissa McCarthy star as mob wives who take on their husbands' crimes. Yes, please! Footage shown at CinemaCon wowed audiences -- plus, this is the directorial debut for "Straight Outta Compton" writer Andrea Berloff.
Warner Bros.
"Blinded by the Light" (August 14)

Gurinder Chadha's "Blinded by the Light," which took the Sundance Film Festival by storm, follows a teenager in 1980s Britain who lives his life through the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Warner Bros
"Where’d You Go, Bernadette?" (August 16)

Richard Linklater is back with the adaptation of Maria Semple's 2012 comic novel, which follows Bernadette Fox, a woman who unexpectedly disappears. Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig and Judy Greer star.
Annapurna
"Good Boys" (August 16)

Dubbed "Pineapple Express" for young boys, this R-rated comedy stars Jacob Tremblay, Brady Noon and Keith L. Williams as preteens who ditch school to go on a journey while accidentally carrying stolen drugs and trying to make it home for a party. Seth Rogen, James Weaver, Lee Eisenberg and Evan Goldberg produce.
Universal