Weinstein Company’s ‘Amityville’ Fizzles While ‘The Square’ Soars at Indie Box Office

TWC’s latest made less than $1,000 total, while 2017 Palme D’Or winner scored a $19,000 per screen average

The Square Terry Notary
"The Square"

This week’s indie box office results were a case of extremes, as “Amityville: The Awakening” — the latest from the scandal-riddled Weinstein Company — made less than $1,000 total in its limited release, while this year’s Palme D’Or winner, “The Square,” had a stellar four-screen opening with $76,000 and a $19,000 per screen average.

“Amityville,” which is being released by The Weinstein Company through Dimension Films, made a mere $742 for a per screen average of $74 from 10 screens. The horror flick starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bella Thorne was filmed in 2014 before suffering numerous delays, and it was released on Google Play for free two weeks ago, with the free stream being announced prior to the New York Times publishing their expose on Harvey Weinstein. Produced by Blumhouse, the film is written and directed by Franck Khalfoun and has a 20 percent RT score.

On the other side of the spectrum is Magnolia Pictures’ “The Square.” Dominic West stars as the curator of a contemporary art museum who installs a new exhibit on altruism, but who quickly drags himself and the museum into chaos with his foolishness. Elisabeth Moss also stars in this film directed and written by Ruben Ostlund, which won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival and has a 78 percent Rotten Tomatoes score.

Elsewhere, Atlas’ “Let There Be Light” was released on 373 screens and grossed $1.8 million for a per screen average of $5,000. “God’s Not Dead” star Kevin Sorbo wrote and directed the film, with Fox News pundit Sean Hannity as executive producer. Sony Pictures Classics’ “Novitiate” performed decently with $22,577 from three screens for a PSA of $7,526. Written and directed by Margaret Betts in her directorial debut, the film follows the spiritual struggles of a convent on the eve of the Second Vatican Council in 1954. The film has a 91 percent RT score.

Among holdovers, A24’s “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” expanded to 33 screens and made $221,532 for a PSA of $6,713 and a total of $392,453. Amazon/Roadside Attractions’ “Wonderstruck” made $126,000 from 42 screens to bring its total to $213,221. Fox Searchlight’s “Goodbye Christopher Robin” made $330,000 in its third week from 213 screens, bringing its total to $633,036, while A24’s “The Florida Project” passed the $2 million mark in its fourth week with $539,234 from 145 screens for a $2.15 million total.

Fox Searchlight’s “Battle of the Sexes” made $310,000 from 291 screens to bring its total to $12 million in its sixth week, while Good Deed’s “Loving Vincent” added $449,453 from 191 screens to pass the $2 million mark in its sixth week. Finally, Focus Features’ “Victoria & Abdul” added $1.6 million in its sixth week to bring its total to $17.7 million.

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