Christmas Day will bring a cluster of specialty titles to the box office, but some films got a head start this weekend. Leading them is A24’s “The Brutalist,” which opened on four screens in New York and Los Angeles this past weekend, grossing $266,791 for a strong average of $66,700.
Starring Adrien Brody as Laszlo Toth, a Hungarian architect struggling to fulfill his artistic vision after emigrated to America post-World War II, “The Brutalist” has earned significant acclaim since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where director Brady Corbet won the Silver Lion. The film has made headlines by earning seven Golden Globe nominations, putting it alongside other Oscar contenders like “Anora,” “Conclave,” and “Emilia Perez.”
With a hefty 215-minute runtime, which includes an emotionally grueling second half, “The Brutalist” may have limited appeal among mass audiences. Nonetheless, A24's decision to include a 15-minute intermission could entice curious moviegoers who might be hesitant about the film’s length.
A24 is implementing a strategic release plan with the film having a month-long exclusive run in New York and Los Angeles before it expands nationwide on January 24, which is just one week after Oscar nominations are revealed. This timing aims to build positive word of mouth and capitalize on the film’s recent success and award nominations.
Other films opening this weekend also competed for attention. Pedro Almodovar’s latest, “The Room Next Door,” released by Sony Pictures Classics, opened on six screens, grossing $107,445 for a per theater average of $17,908. Featuring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, the film tells the poignant story of an author and her friend, who asks to spend her final days together before undergoing euthanasia.
Like “The Brutalist,” “The Room Next Door” is set to expand to select cities on Christmas Day before rolling out nationwide next month. Meanwhile, Amazon MGM’s “Nickel Boys” continued its limited run, grossing $62,162 from five NY/LA theaters, bringing its total to $145,000, with plans for expansion on January 3.
Paramount’s “September 5” is also continuing its limited release, having earned $37,000 from nine screens, totaling $154,000. All these titles signify the diverse offerings available to moviegoers this holiday season, with “The Brutalist” standing out due to its ambitious storytelling and artistic merits.
Overall, as viewers sift through the options available to them during this holiday season, “The Brutalist” offers not just entertainment but also thought-provoking themes tied to art, ambition, and the struggles of the immigrant experience, reinforcing its standing as one of the most anticipated films of the season.
