Vertical’s searing drama Rosemead, Lucy Liu’s first solo starring role, ginned up $50.2k from an exclusive run at NYC’s AMC Lincoln Square, one of the top per-theater openings of the year. The actresss, also a producer on Rosemead, did double duty this weekend at the indie film box office in Lionsgate’s reprise of Quentin Tarantino’s beloved Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair as the deliciously dangerous villain O-Ren Ishii. The latter compilation (of Volumes One and Two) was no. 6 at the domestic box office with $3.25 million on 1,198 screens.
Rosemead, the feature directing debut of veteran cinematographerEric Lin, premiered at the Tribeca Festival, and the lead creative team is comprised entirely of Asian Americans telling a very specific story but on that transcends race. Liu stars an ailing suburban woman who uncovers a terrifying secret — her teenage son (Lawrence Shou) is consumed by violent impulses. As her health rapidly declines, she wrestles with how far she will go to protect him. Set within the quiet tensions of a Chinese American household, the film explores the unraveling of a family pushed to the brink.It won Best Narrative Feature at the Bentonville Film Festival, and the Prix du Public UBS audience award at the Locarno Film Festival, where Liu also accepted its Career Achievement Award.
Vertical said sold-out showtimes and walk-up demand remained steady throughout the weekend including for multiple cast and filmmaker Q&A’s moderated by Marcia Gay Harden and actress Julia Fox. Expands to AMC Century City in LA next weekend with Q&A’s hosted by Geena Davis an Awkwafina. Demi Moore, Rosie Perez, Lulu Wang and Barry Jenkins all led screenings in New York and Los Angeles ahead of the release.
Watch on Deadline
“I’m so moved by the incredible supportRosemeadhas received from audiences. When Mynette Louie, Andrew Corkin, and I set out to make this film, our hope was to spark conversation and maybe even open a few hearts. To feel that connection with everyone this weekend means more than I can express,” said Liu.
“We are proud to distribute this courageous and vitally important film exclusively in movie theatres and excited to bring it to Los Angeles next week and across the country in January,” said Vertical’s President of Distribution Steve Bunnell.
Producer Mynette Louie called “theatrical releasing is critical to the survival of independently financed films. We cannot rely on corporations to help us tell the wide range of our underrepresented stories that appeal universally. Our film started as a community-led effort, and we are thrilled to now welcome audiences of all stripes into that growing community.”
New openings, wide/moderate: Manga Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution from GKids opened to a snappy $10.15 million on 1,833 screens and a no. 4 spot at the domestic box office.
Merrily We Roll Along from Sony Pictures Classics — directorMaria Friedman‘s film of the 2024 hit Broadway revival ofStephen Sondheim‘s 1981 musical — debuted to $1.24 million on 1,084 screens. The revival won Tony Awards for musical revival and for its stars Jonathan Groff andDaniel Radcliffe.
Bleecker Street’s British period spoof Fackham Hall opened to $620k at 1,112 locations. The Jim O’Hanlon comedy with Damian Lewis is billed as Downton Abbey meets Airplane!.
100 Nights of Hero from IFC Films Entertainment Group grossed $250k on 828 screens.
New limited openings: Kristen Stewart’s critically praised directorial debut The Chronology of Water, from The Forge, opened for a one-week qualifying run at Village East in New York City and Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles, grossing $18k. Based on the acclaimed memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch the film premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Deauville American Film Festival, AFI Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, SCAD Savannah Film Festival and Denver Film Festival where actress Imogen Poots was honored with the Excellence in Acting Award. Formally open in select markets on 1/9 and will expand throughout the month.
From Mubi, La Grazia, the latest film by Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, debuted exclusively at the Angelika Film Center in NYC to $13.9k. Stars Toni Servillo as a fictional Italian president facing wrenching decisions both political and deeply personal. Will add the top 15 markets in North America over the next two weeks.
Expansions: Focus Features’ Hamnet by Chloé Zhao clocked an estimated three-day gross of $2.3 million an no. 8 spot in week 2 on 744 screens for a cume of $4.2 million as it looks towards a wide break in January. The film continues to play strongly with audiences posting a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes audience score (86% Fresh with critics) and remaining in the top ten. Earlier this week, the film earned an AFI Motion Picture of the Year honor and 11 Critics Choice Awards nominations including Best Feature. Stars Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn.
David Freyne’s Eternity from A24 delivered the best hold in the top ten this weekend on strong word of mouth in week 2 for a $2.7 million weekend on 2,386 screens, the no. 7 spot, and a $9.58 million gross. The afterlife romantic comedy stars Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, Callum Turner, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and John Early
Holdovers: Searchlight’s Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser grossed $577k in week 3 on 1,005 screens for a cume of $8.97 million.
Neon’s The Secret Agent grossed $109k on 8 screens in week 2 for a cume of $211k. The distributor’s Sentimental Value is sticking around on 344 screens in week 5 for a $328k weekend and a cume of $2.94 million.
SPC’s Nuremberg starring Russell Crowe and Rami Malek is on 341 screes in week 5 for a $356k weekend and a $13.2 million cume.