American Fiction expanded into more theaters this weekend and got a solid boost from Oscar buzz.
The satire from writer-director Cord Jefferson picked up five Academy Award nominations on Tuesday, including best picture and best actor for Jeffrey Wright.
The film expanded into an additional 852 locations this weekend and brought in an estimated $2.9 million — up 65 percent from the previous week, according to box office tracking company Comscore.
That brought the indie film’s domestic total to $11.8 million since it opened on Dec. 15. The MGM release stars Jeffrey Wright as a struggling author who jokingly pens a novel filled with stereotypes about the Black community called “My Pafology.” To his surprise, the book becomes a bestseller.
Related Story: Oscar Nominations 2024 – Full List of Nominees
Poor Things also got a bump at the box office — after picking up 11 Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actress for Emma Stone. The Searchlight release added 900 locations this weekend and earned $3.04 million for a domestic total through Sunday of $24.7 million.
Ava Duvernay’s Origin, which was snubbed by Oscar voters, added 539 theaters and earned $1.4 million in its second weekend of release. That brought the drama’s domestic total through Sunday of $2.5 million.
Overall, Poor Things finished the weekend in seventh place at the box office and American Fiction was eighth.
The Beekeeper and Mean Girls were in a dead heat for first place on a slow weekend in theaters.
The Beekeeper grossed $7.4 million and has a domestic total through Sunday of $42.3 million after three weeks. Jason Statham stars in the R-rated action film about a former operative from a powerful and clandestine organization known as the “Beekeepers.”
High school-set comedy Mean Girls rang up another $7.3 million, for a domestic total through Sunday of $60.8 million after three weeks.
Wonka landed in third place after seven weeks with $5.9 million. The Warner Bros. release has a domestic total through Sunday of $195.1 million.
In the 4th place spot, Universal’s Migration earned $5.1 million for a domestic total of $101.2 million after six weeks.
The R-rated romantic comedy Anyone But You rounded out the top 5 with $4.8 million, and has earned $71.1 million after six weeks.
With no new wide releases, the 2024 box office is down 11 percent compared to this time last year.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.