Overview

• The A24 biopic opened to about $5.9–$6 million from 3,345 theaters, finishing third behind Taylor Swift’s concert film (around $33 million) and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (about $11 million).
• The result fell well short of $8–$15 million projections and arrives against a reported $50 million production budget.
• Exit polling showed a B- CinemaScore and an audience skewing young and male, with analysts noting a crowded sports weekend and a UFC pay-per-view that likely diverted core viewers.
• Despite the weak start, critics widely praised Johnson’s transformative turn as Mark Kerr, and Benny Safdie won Venice’s Silver Lion for best director.
• Johnson addressed the outcome on Instagram, thanking moviegoers and saying box office is uncontrollable but the role and collaboration with Safdie “changed my life.”