While the indie box office has been up-and-down, it definitely closed out June on a high note, as two new releases, NEON’s “Three Identical Strangers” and Bleecker Street’s “Leave No Trace,” scored exceptionally high per screen averages.
“Three Identical Strangers” had the top average of the week, releasing on five screens and earning just over $163,000 for a per screen average of $32,605. The documentary from Tim Wardle follows the true story of triplets who were separated at birth and discovered each other as adults. While their reunion became a feel-good story in the press, their journey soon turns dark as the brothers discover why they were separated in the first place. The film currently has a 94 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Leave No Trace,” which stars Ben Foster and newcomer Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, debuted on nine screens this weekend and earned $216,161 for a per screen average of $24,018. The critically-acclaimed drama follows a trauma-stricken veteran and his teenage daughter who have spent their whole lives living off the grid. When social services find and capture them, the two struggle to adapt to living in society. But when they decide to escape and return to their natural lives, the father and daughter must comes to terms with what each of them really need.
Directed by Debra Granik and co-written with Anne Rosellini, the film has been lauded by critics as one of the best of the year, giving it a 100 percent Rotten Tomatoes score with 91 reviews logged.
Elsewhere, Focus Features’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” stayed in the top 10 in its fourth weekend, adding $2.29 million from 654 screens to bring its total to $7.5 million. Magnolia’s “RBG,” which is completing its theatrical run, added $388,000 to bring its total to $11.5 million.
Among holdovers, Gunpowder & Sky’s “Hearts Beat Loud” added $370,000 from 170 screens, pushing its total to $1.27 million after four weekends. The Orchard/MoviePass Ventures’ “American Animals” crossed $2 million in its fifth weekend, adding just under $360,000 from 293 screens. Finally, A24’s “First Reformed” crossed $3 million its seventh weekend, adding $159,600 from 118 screens.