Ari Aster’s Surreal Odyssey ‘Beau Is Afraid’ Lands A24’s Best Limited Opening Since ‘Uncut Gems’ – Specialty Box Office
deadline.comBeau Is Afraid posted the top per-screen average of the year so far and the best limited opening for distributor A24 since Uncut Gems, grossing an estimated $320,396 at four locations in New York and LA for a hefty per-screen average of $80K+ in sold-out shows on both coasts. (Uncut Gems with Adam Sandler had a $105k PSA on five screens in 2019 — a limited-opening record at the time.) In Ari Aster’s surrealist black comedy-horror Beau, Joaquin Phoenix is a mild-mannered man riddled by paranoia, who confronts his worst fears on an epic journey to his hometown for his mother’s funeral.
Presales had been looking strong and the numbers certainly came through for the distrib and the director beloved by fans of his previous films Hereditary and Midsommar.
The ensemble cast includes Nathan Lane, Amy, Ryan, Parker Posey and Patti LuPone. Expanding in a regional Imax event on 4/18 ahead of a nationwide rollout 4/21.
Weekend: Fri: $141,091; Sat. $100,733; Sun., $78,396. Other specialty releases: Wild Life from Picturehouse and National Geographic Documentary Films grossed $46k+ on two screens – Angelika Film Center/NYC and Angelika Pop-Up/D.C. — for the weekend’s second biggest PTA of $23,359.
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