Indie Film Box Office: ‘Over Your Dead Body’, ‘Mother Mary’, Amy Goodman Doc

A handful of moderate and limited releases showed some pep at the specialty box office but it’s a tough weekend with Michael dominating the dance floor.

Independent Film Company’s R-rated action comedy Over Your Dead Body had the no. 8 opening in North America at $1.425 million on 1,550 screens — its third wide release to break into the upper tier of the box office over the past month and a half. By Jorma Taccone. Stars Jason Segel, Timothy Olyphant, Samara Weaving, Juliette Lewis.

A24’s pop drama Mother Mary starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel follows at 9^th in week 2 in a major expansion to 1,103 screens (from 5) with a $1.25 million gross and a $1.48 million cume.

American Youngboy concert doc from IndeFilms rounds out the top 10 with a $1.19 million debut at 583 locations for a $1.84 million cume. Directed by Nico Ballesteros, rapper NBA Youngboy’s Masa Tour film tapped 42 sold-out arena shows including backstage footage, rehearsals and life in between.

New, wide: Roadside Attractions’ and Saban Films’ London-set action thriller Fuze debuted at $1 million on 1,164 screens. The distributor’s A Great Awakening added $403k on 673 screens in week 4 for a $7.55 million cume.

Vertical’s lavish Saudi-shot epic Desert Warrior opened to $472k on 1,010 screens. NYC’s AMC Empire and LA’s AMC Burbank were the top grossers with support popping other markets like Baltimore, El Paso, Miami, Hartford and Boston. The film was far from a critics’ darling although there were nods to its scope and production values. It’s long road to the big screen as Saudi Arabia looks to attract production is an interesting story.

New, limited: New: Greenwich Entertainment’s Omaha opened to $13.5k in an exclusive run at NYC’s IFC Center. The debut feature from Cole Webley, written by Robert Machoian and starring John Magaro expand to LA and Omaha, NE 5/1 and adds additional markets 5/8 through to a full 45-day theatrical window. 

Limited expansion: In its third weekend, Steal This Story, Pleaseby Carl Deal and Tia Lessin added engagements in Seattle and Portland while continuing to play in the New York, LA and SF areas. The doc about pioneering journalist Amy Goodman and her daily news broadcast Democracy Now! grossed an estimated $64.4k on 24 screens for a new cume of $225k. An Xceptional Communications release with booking support from mTuckman media. 

Janus Films’ release of critically acclaimed Blue Heron expanded to LA and Toronto in its second weekend, grossing an estimated $52.3k on 7 screens for a per screen average for a new cume of $77.4k. Expands throughout May.

Erupcja from 1-2 Special is looking at $30k from 6 locations in week 2 for a $72k cume. Director Pete Ohs on the move along with the film, appearing with producer/star Jeremy O. Harris at the Music Box in Chicago Friday and Saturday and hitting the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin Sunday for Q&As. He’ll be at the AFI Silver Theatre (4/30); the Belcourt in Nashville (5/1); the Esquire in Cincinnati (5/2); and the Roxie in San Francisco (5/3) as the film expands.

In person post-screening talkbacks have increasingly become a key driver for most limited release independents to juice opening numbers and drive word of mouth. Harris is taking Denver at the Alamo Drafthouse Sloans Lake (5/1) and SIE Film Center (5/2). 

Ben McKenzie documentary Everyone Is Lying To You For Money from The Forge grossed $21k on 4 screens with limited schedules in week two for a $44.8k cume. Q&A showtimes with McKenzie sold out at Coolidge Corner in Boston and AFI Silver in DC. The platform release expands to Austin Film Society and Landmark Opera Plaza, Roxie and Alamo Drafthouse Mountainview in San Francisco next week, followed by AMC Pacific Place in Seattle and Living Room Theatres in Portland the following.

Moderate: Focus Features’ biographical documentary Lorne from Morgan Neville grossed $70k in week 2 at 248 theaters for a cume of $426k.

Neon has Japanese thriller Exit 8 based on popular videogame and Steven Soderbergh’s London art world comedy-drama The Christophers with Ian McKellan and Michaela Coel, both in week 3. The former is eyeing an estimated $260k weekend on 250 screens for a $23.5 million cume; the latter’s at $333k for a cume of $1.39 million.

Event: Warner Bros.’ Speed Racer lit up 285 screens earlier this week, netting a cool $1 million in Imax box office for the 2008 actioner from the Wachowskis. Played in circa 280 locations for select shows on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Disney released 20^th Century Fox’s 1999 Fight Club 4K remaster on Wed. for a cume through Sunday of $805k.