The specialty market had a Shah Rukh Khan-nice weekend as Yash Raj Films’ Jawan pulled in an estimated $6.2 million in 813 theaters — a per-theater average $7.6k — taking the no. 4 spot at the North American box office. That’s a $7.56 million cume for the Bollywood action thriller including Thursday shows.
SRK plays a man facing down a villanous foe as he sets out to rectify the wrongs of society, driven by a personal vendetta, and a promise made years ago. Directed by Atlee Kumar, it also stars Nayanthara, Deepika Padukone, Vijay Sethupathi, Sunil Grover and Sanya Malhotra. The film by Red Chillies Entertainment is playing in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions, each with English subtitles, in all top U.S. markets, including some Imax screens. (Worldwide, Imax said today, Jawan repped its second-best opening ever for an Indian title with $2.4M.)
Expansion: Notably, Bottoms from MGM, rounded out the top 10 (at no. 10) in a strong week-three expansion to 1,265 screens from 715. Emma Seligman’s raunchy teen comedy grossed an estimated $2.05 million over three three days for a PTA of $1,622 and a cume through Sunday of $7.6 million.
The R-rated high school comedy had one of the strongest limited openings of the year on ten screens. Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri star as PJ and Josie, two queer high school seniors, who start a self- defense fight club for girls hoping to hook up with attractive cheerleaders. The club gains traction and soon the most popular girls in school are beating each other bloody. Produced by Elizabeth Banks (Cocaine Bear).
Other new openings: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe from Blue Fox Entertainment grossed $240.4k on 525 screens. Aitch Alberto’s TIFF 2022-premiering story of two Mexican-American teenagers and best friends is based on the book by Benjamin Alire Sáenz set in 1987 El Paso. Stars Eugenio Derbez, Max Pelayo, Eva Longoria Reese Gonzales, Marlene Forte and Kevin Alejandro.
Variance Films’ presentation of Michael Goorjian’s comedy-drama Amerikatsi had a solid opening in New York and L.A. with an estimated $59.2k on three screens – a $19.7k PTA — including sold-out Q&As on both coasts with writer, director and star Michael Goorjian. Set in 1948, the film follows a man who returns to his homeland of Armenia decades after fleeing to the U.S.
Expands next weekend to Chicago, Miami, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego, with additional cities to come on 9/22 and 9/29 focusing on the art house and Armenian diaspora audiences.
Holdovers: Golda from Bleecker Street, starring Helen Mirren as the iconic Israeli Prime Minster, will gross an estimated $293k in its third weekend on 331 screens, for a cume of $4.1 million.