Magnolia Pictures’ dark comedy premiered at the IFC Center in Manhattan with a $58.2K weekend, marking the venue’s biggest opening in more than two years and the sixth-largest debut in its history.
According to IFC Center SVP and General Manager Harris Dew, the film’s performance was driven largely by younger audiences and an unusually strong demand for in-person engagement events.
“with each selling out almost as soon as it was announced, building into at-capacity screenings all weekend long,” Dew said, referring to the series of Q&A sessions that accompanied the release.
Those events featured a rotating lineup of hosts and moderators, including John Wilson, Sarah Sherman, Julio Torres, Ivy Wolk, Theda Hammel, Brace Belden and Amy Sedaris, with multiple screenings selling out almost immediately after being announced.
The film’s star, comedian John Early, was present throughout the rollout, participating in multiple sold-out Q&A sessions as part of a broader promotional tour that has stretched over several months.
“I am so touched by all the beautiful New Yorkers coming out to meet Maddie this weekend,” Early said. “It’s especially meaningful for it to be happening at the IFC Center where I first saw Showgirls when I was 18.”
From Festival Circuit to Theatrical Momentum
“Maddie’s Secret” arrives in theaters after a strong festival run that included its premiere at TIFF, screenings at New York’s New Directors/New Films, and an opening-night slot at the Los Angeles Festival of Movies. The film is scheduled to expand to Los Angeles next week, with Early continuing Q&A appearances at AMC Americana at Brand, AMC Burbank, and Laemmle Santa Monica before additional cities are added on July 3.
In the film, Early plays Maddie, a dishwasher who unexpectedly becomes a viral sensation at a trendy food content company. As professional pressure mounts, her long-dormant struggles with an eating disorder resurface, leading to a gradual emotional unraveling. The cast includes Eric Rahill as her husband and Kate Berland as her best friend, with an ’80s-inspired score composed by Michael Hesslein, a frequent Early collaborator.
Music Documentary Draws Strong National Demand
In the documentary space, “Gregg Allman: The Music Of My Soul” exceeded expectations after initially being planned as a one-night-only theatrical event. Strong audience demand led theaters nationwide to add encore screenings, pushing projected grosses to around $375K across 199 screens for the five-day window.
Directed by James Keach and produced by longtime Allman manager Michael Lehman, the film has also earned a rare 100% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting strong fan reception.
The film’s reach has been notably broad, with high-performing engagements spanning multiple regions, including the Lucas Theatre in Savannah, Piedmont Opera House in Macon, the Belcourt in Nashville, the Basie Center in Red Bank, NJ, North Park in Buffalo, the Tara in Atlanta, and the Burns Court in Sarasota.
“This reinforces our belief that theatrical remains a powerful platform for music-driven films and passionate fan communities. We built Subtext to live where film and music meet, and the response to Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul validates that vision,” said Subtext executive Danielle DiGiacomo.
The documentary will continue in select theaters this week ahead of a national encore rollout next weekend.
Limited Releases Build Niche Momentum
Elsewhere, “Rose of Nevada” from 1-2 Special opened to $25K across three theaters. Directed by Mark Jenkin, the film continues a Q&A circuit this week with stops at Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY (6/22), Coolidge Corner in Brookline, MA (6/23), AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, MD (6/24), The Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee (6/25, presented in 35mm), and The Music Box in Chicago (6/26, 35mm screenings). The film, starring George MacKay and Callum Turner, will expand into additional U.S. cities next week and continues its platform rollout through July with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics score.
Greenwich Entertainment’s “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man” opened exclusively at New York’s Quad Cinema, where it emerged as the top-performing title in the complex with an estimated $9.5K. The documentary, which chronicles the life and career of British Invasion figure Peter Asher across six decades, premiered at Telluride and was directed by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine. It features appearances from James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Paul McCartney, Steve Martin, Eric Idle, Robin Williams, Lyle Lovett, Natalie Merchant, Twiggy, Pattie Boyd, Marianne Faithfull, Paul Shaffer, Gordon Waller, Rufus Wainwright, and “Weird Al” Yankovic. The film expands to Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and additional markets next week.
Moderate Performer: ‘Girls Like Girls’ Holds Steady
Focus Features’ coming-of-age drama “Girls Like Girls,” directed by Hayley Kiyoko, posted a solid $1.6 million across 504 theaters.
Based on Kiyoko’s hit single and bestselling novel of the same name, the film continues to benefit from strong audience goodwill, holding an 89% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 91% audience rating.
Wide Releases Deliver Mixed Results
Neon’s “Leviticus,” the feature debut of Adrian Chiarella, opened to $2.75 million across 1,076 screens. The film follows two teenage boys (Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen) who must escape a violent supernatural entity that takes the form of the person they desire most—each other. Mia Wasikowska also stars.
A24’s “The Death of Robin Hood,” directed by Michael Sarnoski, launched with $2.6 million from 1,762 screens. Shot on 35mm film and starring Hugh Jackman alongside Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, and Murray Bartlett, the revisionist drama reimagines the final days of the legendary outlaw with a darker, more grounded tone.