The weekend has had a sizable crowd of specialty newcomers, though as summer begins its sunset, it appears some audiences are going beyond the big studio brouhaha. Sundance psycho-thriller Luce lead the pack with a $132,916 start in five locations, grabbing a $26,583 per theater average for the Neon/Topic Studios release in the three-day estimate, while not far behind was IFC Films’ The Nightingale for $40,082 in two theaters and a $20,041 PTA. A24’s The Farewell, meanwhile, landed comfortably in the top 10 this weekend, while being in far fewer theaters than the studio titles. The Sundance title by Lulu Wang grossed over $2.4M in 409 theaters, averaging a robust $5,939 for the Mandarin and English-language feature. It has cumed over $6.84M.

Neon reported Sunday that writer-director Julius Onah’s Luce’s exits showed “broad appeal,” with a 28% African-American audience and about a 50/50 split between crowds over and under 40 years-old. Moviegoers were about 59% female and 41% male.

“Julius has developed the kind of psychological thriller you rarely see get made anymore, addressing issues of race, class and identity,” said Neon CEO and Founder Tom Quinn ahead of the title’s weekend roll out. “It’s so of the moment. It’s simultaneously classical and contemporary with a prescient handle on what’s happening today. We’re in this business to be a part of movies like this.”

Luce will head to top markets on August 9, expanding throughout the month and into Labor Day weekend.

IFC Films reported “strong” runs at IFC Center in New York and the Arclight Hollywood for writer-director Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale, with sold out shows on Friday and Saturday. “The upcoming support we have from the exhibition community has been outstanding, with Landmark, AMC, Regal and Alamo all on board for this release, as well as top arthouses like the Music Box and SIFF,” noted IFC Films Justin DiPietro Sunday morning. “We’re all excited here with our initial opening and to be working again with such an outstanding filmmaker in Jennifer.”

Also showing gusto out the gate was Oscilloscope doc Jay Myself, which had an exclusive weekend run at New York’s Film Forum, grossing $19,088 in the three-day estimate. Directed by Stephen Wilkes, the documentary about American photographer Jay Maisel opened Wednesday.

“Based on advance ticket sales, we’ve known for weeks that the film would open really big, but we had no idea just how big,” commented Oscilloscope exec Andrew Carlin Sunday. “Half a dozen Q&A screenings sold out, while attendance at regular screenings has been incredibly robust as well. Jay Myself plus Film Forum is honestly the perfect combination of film and theater. We feel like word-of-mouth is going to propel this movie for months.”

Oscilloscope said that Jay Myself’s combined Wednesday and Thursday gross represented Film Forum’s “best midweek opening in over three years,” while the title’s Friday – Sunday estimate is the second-highest opening weekend gross in the past year.

Love Antosha, the Sundance doc centered on late actor Anton Yelchin, opened with an exclusive showing at the Nuart in L.A. over the weekend, grossing $7,150. Directed by Garret Price, the film will open an exclusive engagement in New York next weekend before expanding to the top 20 markets throughout August and early September.



1091 Media

Among other weekend limited release openers, 1091 launched thriller Them That Follow in three locations for a $15K three-day estimate ($5K PTA), while Cohen Media Group bowed Venice premiere comedy Tel Aviv On Fire in 11 theaters, grossing $50,987 ($4,635 PTA). Music Box Films played Italian crime-drama Piranhas with an exclusive run at Lincoln Center in its opening frame for $3,049.

[UPDATED]: Neon documentary awards contender. Honeyland played three additional runs in its second weekend outing. The Sundance premiere vérité grossed an estimated $37,671 in five locations, averaging $7,534, certainly solid for a non-English language, non-fiction title. Honeyland had a sweet bow in two locations last weekend, grossing over $31K for a $15,691 PTA. Magnolia Pictures jumped Mike Wallace Is Here to 22 runs in its second weekend outing. Directed by Avi Belkin, the Sundance title grossed an estimated $54K, averaging $2,455. Mike Wallace opened to $19,437 in three theaters, averaging $6,479. SPC doc David Crosby: Remember My Name showed zest in its third frame, dropping less than 2% in its weekend PTA despite expanding by 18 locations over last weekend. The feature grossed $76,265 in the three-day estimate, averaging $2,630 in 29 theaters. In its previous frame, the feature grossed over $29K in 11 locations, averaging $2,672. It has cumed $178,523. Sony Pictures Classics Fellow Sony Classics doc Maiden only had about 4% decline in its PTA this weekend vs. last weekend also with an expansion. Maiden sailed to a $229,436 gross in 131 theaters, averaging $1,751. The title took nearly $205K in the prior frame, averaging $1,813. It has cumed over $1.52M. Neon’s The Biggest Little Farm shed 8 runs in its 14th weekend of release, but it did have a PTA uptick vs its previous frame. The Telluride/Toronto premiere grossed $53,250 in 53 locations Friday to Sunday, averaging $1,005. Last weekend the film took just under 41K in 61 theaters, averaging $672 Greenwhich Entertainment’s Echo In The Canyon, meanwhile, crossed $3M in its 11th weekend in theaters. The music doc grossed an estimated $95,340 this weekend, averaging $917 bringing its estimated cume to $3,077,151.

NEW RELEASES

Jay Myself (Oscilloscope) NEW [1 Theater] Weekend $19,088, Cume $27,750 (Weds. opening)

Joan The Maid (Cohen Media Group) NEW [1 Theater] Weekend $1,343

Love Antosha (Lurker Films Release) NEW [1 Theater] Weekend $7,150

Luce (Neon/Topic Studios) NEW [5 Theaters] Weekend $132,916, Average $26,583

The Nightingale (IFC Films) NEW [2 Theaters] Weekend $40,082, Average $20,041

Piranhas (Music Box Films) NEW [1 Theater] Weekend $3,049

Tel Aviv On Fire (Cohen Media Group) NEW [11 Theaters] Weekend $50,987, Average $4,635

Them That Follow (1091) NEW [3 Theaters] Weekend $15,000, Average $5,000

RETURNING/SECOND WEEKEND

Honeyland (Neon) Week 2 [5 Theaters] Weekend $37,671, Average $7,534, Cume $81,827

Mike Wallace Is Here (Magnolia Pictures) Week 2 [22 Theaters] Weekend $54,000, Average $2,455, Cume $81,785

HOLDOVERS / THIRD+ WEEKENDS

David Crosby: Remember My Name (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 3 [29 Theaters] Weekend $76,265, Average $2,630, Cume $178,523

The Art of Self-Defense (Bleecker Street) Week 4 [110 Theaters] Weekend $52,239, Average $475, Cume $2,367,425

Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable (Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures) Week 4 [24 Theaters] Weekend $8,000, Average $333, Cume $570,983

The Farewell (A24) Week 4 [409 Theaters] Weekend $2,429,114, Average $5,939, Cume $6,842,321

Sword Of Trust (IFC Films) Week 4 [80 Theaters] Weekend $73,367, Average $917, Cume $245,347

Marianne And Leonard: Words Of Love (Roadside Attractions) Week 5 [101 Theaters] Weekend $74,215, Average $735, Cume $693,896

Maiden (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 6 [131 Theaters] Weekend $229,436, Average $1,751, Cume $1,525,638

Wild Rose (Neon) Week 7 [87 Theaters] Weekend $51,000, Average $586, Cume $1,507,864

The Last Black Man In San Francisco (A24) Week 9 [74 Theaters] Weekend $89,430, Average $1,209, Cume $4,276,668

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (Magnolia Pictures) Week 6 [24 Theaters] Weekend $11,000, Average $458, Cume $547,316

Free Trip To Egypt (Matson Films) Week 10 [3 Theaters] Weekend $2,814, Average $938, Cume $ 26,401 (Fathom Event on 6/12: $71,087)

Echo In The Canyon (Greenwich Entertainment) Week 11 [104 Theaters] Weekend $95,340, Average $917, Cume $3,077,151

The Biggest Little Farm (Neon) Week 14 [53 Theaters] Weekend $53,250, Average $1,005, Cume $4,230,506