Specialized Box Office Spotlight: Samara Weaving’s ‘Carolina Caroline’ Claims No. 1

In a week dominated by buzz around TIFF’s “Obsession,” another TIFF title from last year opened in limited release and posted solid specialized‑box‑office numbers. That film is “Caroline Caroline,” picked up by Magnolia and debuting on 246 screens.

The lovers‑on‑the‑run crime thriller stars Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner under director Adam Rehmeier. It grossed $110,110, averaging $448 per venue, enough to top IndieWire’s specialized chart. Magnolia’s biggest release of the year remains the Bob Odenkirk action film “Normal,” which has surpassed $5 million domestically, while the distributor also rolled out limited runs for “The Napa Boys” and “Heel” on far fewer screens.

Other limited openings this week included Viva Films’ animated “The Last Whale Singer,” Obscured Releasing’s trans‑teen comedy “She’s the He,” the SXSW‑premiered music documentary “Jack Johnson: Surfilmusic,” and Ryuya Suzuki’s Japanese animated drama “Jinsei,” which opened on a single screen and earned $8,274.

Last week’s chart leader, Black Bear’s “Tuner,” added just enough screens to drop off the specialized list, but it added another $652 K, bringing its cumulative total to $3.1 million. Meanwhile, Sara Dosa’s documentary “Time and Water,” featured the prior week, expanded from one screen to seven and now stands at a cumulative $20,511.

IndieWire’s criteria for inclusion on the Specialized Chart looks at independent and mini-major distributors with films that at their widest release at any point are below 500 screens, excluding event cinema, re-releases, and major Bollywood or Chinese North American releases.

Top 10 Specialized Releases 6/5-6/7 (all figures are domestic results courtesy of Rentrak) (new openings are italicized)

1. “Carolina Caroline” – $110,110
   • Distributor: Magnolia
   • Avg/Location: $448
   • Cumulative: $110,110
2. “The Last Whale Singer” – $93,163
   • Distributor: Viva Films
   • Avg/Location: $266
   • Cumulative: $93,163
3. “Steal this Story, Please!” – $25,554
   • Distributor: Xceptional Communications
   • Avg/Location: $1,030
   • Cumulative: $531,614
4. “Silent Friend” – $12,830
   • Distributor: 1-2 Special
   • Avg/Location: $442
   • Cumulative: $339,966
5. “Time and Water” – $10,868
   • Distributor: 1-2 Special
   • Avg/Location: $1,553
   • Cumulative: $20,511
6. “Blue Heron” – $9,292
   • Distributor: Janus Films
   • Avg/Location: $489
   • Cumulative: $564,604
7. “She’s the He” – $8,927
   • Distributor: Obscured Releasing
   • Avg/Location: 4,464
   • Cumulative: 8,927
8. “Jack Johnson: Surfilmusic” – $8,560
   • Distributor: Mercury Studios
   • Avg/Location: $1,427
   • Cumulative: $8,560
9. “Jinsei” – $8,274
   • Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
   • Avg/Location: $8,274
   • Cumulative: $8,274
10. “The Currents” – $8,196
    • Distributor: Kino Lorber
    • Avg/Location: $820
    • Cumulative: $22,867

Source link