Over the weekend, Kalki 2898 AD continued its successful run, securing the 8th position on 925 screens in its second week. The Telugu sci-fi epic from Prathyangira Cinemas has defied the norm of Indian films by maintaining its box office performance beyond the opening weekend. With a gross of $1.79 million and a total cumulative of $16 million, Kalki has emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian films in North America in over a year. This success is in sharp contrast to the general trend observed in Indian cinema where most films experience a significant drop in box office earnings after the first week.
In comparison to Kalki, Kill, a Hindi action film that made its debut over the weekend, did not resonate as strongly with the audience. Despite receiving positive reviews and garnering attention for its impending English-language remake by Lionsgate, Kill failed to capture the Indian diaspora or action genre enthusiasts. The film only managed to pull in $384.5k on 827 screens, falling short of expectations set by the distributor, Roadside Attractions. This lackluster performance highlights the challenges faced by non-traditional Bollywood films in achieving widespread appeal across diverse audience segments within the Indian film market.
Meanwhile, Thelma from Magnolia Pictures and Kinds of Kindness from Searchlight Pictures continued to hold their ground in the box office charts. Thelma brought in an additional $760k on 620 screens, maintaining a steady performance in its third week. On the other hand, Kinds of Kindness reached an estimated $860,000 over the weekend, contributing to a total cumulative of $3.8 million. These films, despite facing stiff competition from new releases, have managed to establish a loyal audience base and sustain their box office appeal over an extended period, reflecting their enduring popularity among moviegoers.
In other developments, Film Movement introduced a new limited release titled Mother Couch, directed by Niclas Larsson and featuring a star-studded cast including Ewan McGregor, Rhys Ifans, Ellen Burstyn, and Laura Flynn Boyle. The film had a promising debut at the Angelika Film Center, grossing $9k from a single engagement. With plans to expand its release to Los Angeles and other top markets in the upcoming weeks, Mother Couch presents an intriguing addition to the diverse landscape of independent cinema, offering audiences a fresh and engaging viewing experience.