A24’s Alex Garland political thriller, ‘Civil War,’ is making waves at the box office with a solid start of $2.9M in Thursday previews at 2,931 locations. The movie is projected to have an opening of over $20M, which is quite an impressive feat. This is a promising start for the studio, especially considering that ‘Civil War’ is their most expensive production to date, with a budget just under $60M before marketing costs.
Upcoming International Releases
A24 has already sold the majority of foreign rights for ‘Civil War’ early on, but they are handling distribution in the UK and Australia this weekend, with plans to expand to major territories next weekend. With a wide release of 3,800 theaters, including Imax screens, this marks A24’s widest release ever. Additionally, ‘Civil War’ holds the title of the widest R-rated release for an independent studio, adding to its box office potential.
Positive Reception and Expectations
The film has already generated buzz and anticipation, with $2M in advance ticket sales before the weekend even began. There are high hopes that ‘Civil War’ will resonate with a diverse audience, including viewers in the heartland as well as coastal regions. Test screenings in Kansas City and Dallas yielded positive results, indicating that the film may have broad appeal.
Critics have responded favorably to ‘Civil War,’ with an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences have also expressed their satisfaction, giving the film an impressive 86% audience score. The star-studded cast, including Kirsten Dunst, Nick Offerman, and Cailee Spaeny, has been praised for their performances, adding to the overall positive reception of the film.