Box Office Update
Wes Anderson’s latest film, The Phoenician Program, has taken the top spot with an estimated $570,000 opening weekend at just six locations in New York and Los Angeles. This averages out to $95,000 per location, making it the first-class opening of the year. The film will expand to 1,500 screens next weekend.
A Strong Start
The Phoenician Program has surpassed A24’s Friendship, which previously held the top spot with a $75,000 average per location. The film’s strong opening is a promising start, and it’s expected to perform well in the coming weeks.
The Film’s Plot
The Phoenician Program, written by Anderson and Roman Coppola, tells the story of a family patriarch and business titan, played by Benicio del Toro, who is targeted by rivals and assassins. The film also stars Mia Thrapleton as his daughter, a nun who is set to inherit his empire. The all-star cast includes Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, and Scarlett Johansson, among others.
Behind the Scenes
The Phoenician Program is the third collaboration between Focus, Anderson, and Indian Paintbrush, who previously worked together on Asteroid City (2023) and Moonrise Kingdom (2012). The film was produced by Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson, and John Peet, and was shot in Germany in collaboration with Studio Babelsberg.
Box Office Records
Anderson’s films have a history of performing well at the box office, with Asteroid City setting a record with a PTA of $132,000. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) also set a record with a PTA of $200,000 and went on to earn nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Special Screenings
The focus took over the Angelika Film Center in New York, screening The Phoenician Program on all six screens. The event featured a jazz band, merch, and activations in the lobby and concessions, with higher ticket prices of $30 for standard and $60 for premium.
Other Openings
Other films that opened this weekend include IFC Films’ Tornado, which debuted with $130,000 in 412 theaters, and Music Box Films’ Ghost Trail, which opened with $5,600 in four locations.
Holdovers
Sony Pictures Classics’ Jane Austen Destroyed My Life held strong in its second week, earning $526,000 in 61 theaters. The film’s total cume now stands at $977,500.
Event Cinema
The final Met: Live in HD broadcast of the 2024-2025 season, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, earned $906,000 at around 800 cinemas in North America. Fathom distributed the event in most markets.
Concerts and Events
Trafalgar had a successful weekend with the live broadcast of J-Hope’s tour, Hope on Stage in Japan: Live View, earning $789,000 at 631 screens in North America. The distributor also partnered with Hasbro to bring Peppa Meets the Baby Cinema Experience to theaters worldwide, including 428 venues in North America, earning $420,000 on Friday and Saturday.
