Strong Domestic Box Office Debuts: Priscilla and The Holdovers Make an Impact
‘Priscilla’ and ‘The Holdovers’ defy the odds, stunning the box office with their strong domestic debuts, going head-to-head with blockbuster giants
The Big Picture
Alexander Payne's The Holdovers and Sofia Coppola's Priscilla had strong limited releases, earning a combined total of nearly $350,000 across the weekend.
Both movies are vying for awards recognition and debuted at renowned international film festivals. The Holdovers garnered an impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while Priscilla achieved a commendable score of 91%. This film marks Coppola's comeback to the big screen after a five-year hiatus, whereas The Holdovers is set to expand its release to 60 theaters across the country next week.
The domestic box office was dominated by Universal's Five Nights at Freddy's, but two highly anticipated films directed by renowned filmmakers made strong debuts in limited release. Alexander Payne's The Holdovers and Sofia Coppola's Priscilla premiered in fewer than 10 locations each and collectively earned nearly $350,000 over the weekend.
The Holdovers, distributed by Focus Features and starring Paul Giamatti as a school teacher tasked with supervising a student during the Christmas holidays, earned $200,000 in its first three days of release. Screened in six locations in New York and Los Angeles, the film achieved an impressive per-theater average of $33,000. Similarly, Priscilla, marketed as a stark contrast to Baz Luhrmann's vibrant 2022 biopic Elvis, generated $132,000 from four locations in New York and L.A., resulting in a comparable per-screen average of $33,000.
Movie | Opening Weekend Gross | Theater Count |
The Holdovers | $200,000 | 6 |
Priscilla | $132,000 | 4 |
Both films are being positioned as strong contenders for awards, having premiered at renowned international festivals. The Holdovers made its debut at this year’s Telluride Film Festival in August, and currently holds a “certified fresh” rating of 96% on the popular review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. According to Ross Bonaime from our website, it stands as one of Payne's finest works. On the other hand, Priscilla had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September and is being distributed domestically by the independent company A24. While the film currently boasts a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes, our website's Emma Kiely gave it a mixed review, mentioning that "despite the impressive performances by Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, this film fails to meet expectations."
Image via Focus Features
Alexander Payne and Sofia Coppola Are Indie Darlings
Based on the complicated love story of Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla, the movie marks Coppola's return to the big screen after a five-year absence and will have a nationwide release on November 3. Coppola's previous film, "On the Rocks," had a limited theatrical release before premiering on Apple TV+ in 2020. She made her directorial debut with "The Virgin Suicides" and gained significant recognition with her 2003 film, "Lost in Translation." Payne, on the other hand, has not released a film since the disappointing response to his most expensive movie, "Downsizing," in 2017. He is best known for his comedic dramas with a human touch, such as "About Schmidt," "Sideways," "Nebraska," and "The Descendants." The Holdovers will expand to 60 theaters nationwide next week.
The horror video game adaptation "Five Nights at Freddy's" dominated the domestic box office this weekend, grossing an astounding $78 million despite receiving negative reviews. The top five films also included holdovers like Taylor Swift's concert film "The Eras Tour," Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," and the horror reboot "The Exorcist: Believer." Stay tuned to our website for more updates.
Priscilla
When Priscilla Beaulieu, a teenager, encounters Elvis Presley, the iconic rock-and-roll sensation, she discovers an entirely different side of him during their private moments: a thrilling infatuation, a companion in times of solitude, a vulnerable confidant. Priscilla, directed by Sofia Coppola, is distributed in the United States by A24, and features Cailee Spaeny as the central character, and Jacob Elordi as the legendary Elvis Presley.
Release Date November 3, 2023Director Sofia CoppolaCast Jacob Elordi, Cailee Spaeny, Jorja Cadence, Ari CohenRating RRuntime 113 minutesMain Genre Drama
Editor's P/S
As a film enthusiast, I'm thrilled to see that "Priscilla" and "The Holdovers" have made such strong debuts at the domestic box office, defying the odds and proving that there is still an audience for quality, independent cinema. Both films have received critical acclaim, with "The Holdovers" earning a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and "Priscilla" achieving a score of 91%. This is a testament to the talent of the filmmakers involved, Alexander Payne and Sofia Coppola, who have both crafted unique and compelling stories that have resonated with audiences.
I'm particularly excited about "Priscilla," which marks Coppola's return to the big screen after a five-year hiatus. Coppola is a visionary director, and her films are always highly anticipated. "Priscilla" is a fascinating exploration of the relationship between Elvis Presley and his wife, Priscilla, and I can't wait to see how Coppola brings this story to life. The film's strong box office performance suggests that audiences are eager to see Coppola's latest work, and I'm confident that it will be a critical and commercial success.
Overall, I'm thrilled to see that "Priscilla" and "The Holdovers" have made such a strong impact at the box office. These films represent the best of independent cinema, and their success is a sign that audiences are still willing to support quality, thought-provoking films. I can't wait to see what these films have in store for us, and I'm excited to see how they fare during the upcoming awards season.
