This weekend, North American movie theaters saw an exciting influx of new films, ranging from a video game reboot to a Jane Austen adaptation. Among these, Paramount’s “Street Fighter” stood out, taking the top spot at the box office with an impressive $31 million from 3,575 theaters, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
However, the real buzz was generated by the nearly three-hour documentary “You Can See Everything” about Elizabeth Holmes. This film made headlines by earning an extraordinary $15 million from just 855 screens, with over 2,000 sellout showings throughout the weekend, as reported by A24. This opening marks the highest for a film showing on fewer than 1,000 screens since the release of “Borat” in 2006 and the most successful non-music documentary launch in two decades, surpassing “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which grossed nearly $24 million.
The audience for “You Can See Everything” was predominantly young, with over 70% of viewers under the age of 35. Directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, the film was created in secret over three years and features an intimate look at Holmes’s life just before her imprisonment. Critics have praised the film, giving it a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 99 on Metacritic, along with an exceptional 91% “definite recommend” from audiences according to PostTrak exit polls.
With a production budget of under $7 million and a marketing cost of less than $10 million, “You Can See Everything” has proven to be a remarkable success. Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, noted that many underestimated the film’s potential, stating, “Everybody underestimated the movie, because on paper this is like, wait, a three-hour documentary?” He attributed its success to Fielder’s popularity on social media and Holmes’s captivating story, which blends reality with a narrative that feels stranger than fiction.
Meanwhile, “Street Fighter” performed strongly, debuting with a $51 million global opening, including $20 million from international markets. The film, which cost approximately $82 million to produce, attracted a predominantly male audience, accounting for 69% of ticket sales.
In contrast, the survival thriller “Whalefall,” which had a production budget of $60 million, struggled at the box office, earning only $8 million from 3,065 locations despite receiving better reviews than “Street Fighter.” It reached a total of $17.5 million globally after adding $9.5 million from international showings.
The weekend also saw Jessica Chastain’s horror film “Other Mommy” bringing in $8.4 million in its second weekend, raising its domestic total to $44.9 million. Additionally, the Austen adaptation “Sense and Sensibility” earned an estimated $7.3 million from 2,545 theaters, attracting a younger female audience.
In a unique release, Warner Bros. Clockwork showcased a restored version of Ken Russell’s 1971 film “The Devils,” which grossed $1.6 million from 350 locations.
On another note, Alex Gibney’s documentary “Musk,” which focuses on Elon Musk, expanded to 472 screens, earning $306,702. The film has faced advertising challenges on platforms owned by Musk. Meanwhile, Netflix shared box office earnings for “La Bola Negra,” which brought in $277,500 from four locations, marking a shift in how the streaming giant reports its theatrical releases.
Overall, the weekend box office generated approximately $101.6 million, a significant 45% increase from the same weekend last year. The total box office for the year-to-date stands at $8.2 billion, marking an almost 20% increase compared to 2022.
Here’s a look at the top 10 movies by domestic box office for this weekend:
- 1. “Street Fighter,” $31 million.
- 2. “You Can See Everything,” $15 million.
- 3. “Other Mommy,” $8.4 million.
- 4. “Whalefall,” $8 million.
- 5. “Sense and Sensibility,” $7.3 million.
- 6. “Verity,” $6.2 million.
- 7. “Resident Evil,” $5.5 million.
- 8. “Heart of the Beast,” $4.8 million.
- 9. “Jailer 2,” $3.2 million.
- 10. “Forgotten Island,” $2.3 million.
