Indies Kick Off a Strong Start to 2026 at the Specialty Box Office
Box Office Surge Marks Strong Start to 2026
The domestic box office kicked off 2026 with remarkable vigor, driven by the strong performances of Avatar: Fire And Ash, Zootopia 2, and The Housemaid. The three-day weekend yielded an estimated $132 million, marking the best opening weekend of a new year since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Year-to-date, the box office stands at $157 million, a 6.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to Comscore.
In an impressive debut, Vertical’s We Bury The Dead opened to $2.5 million from 1,172 screens, becoming the distributor’s highest-grossing opening weekend release. CEO Peter Jarowey expressed enthusiasm for the start of the year, noting, “We’re thrilled that 2026 kicked off with such a strong box office weekend and proud that We Bury The Dead was part of that moviegoing experience.” The zombie film, featuring Daisy Ridley and directed by Zak Hilditch, is part of Vertical’s expanding slate.
Neon’s No Other Choice, directed by Park Chan-wook, contributed significantly with $991,000 in its second week, bringing its cumulative total to $1.98 million from 45 screens. Similarly, The Secret Agent accumulated $200,000 across 117 screens in its sixth week, matching the overall total of $1.98 million. The indie distributor has successfully showcased a range of international titles, with Sentimental Value continuing to perform well at 70 screens, accumulating $4 million in its ninth week, and It Was Just An Accident reaching $1.7 million from 15 screens in its twelfth week.
IFC’s The Plague, a psychological horror film directed by Charlie Polinger and starring Joel Edgerton, earned $400,000 from 590 screens during its second week, pushing its cumulative total to $445,100.
Janus Films’ Resurrection, directed by Bi Gan, saw a national expansion in its fourth weekend, grossing approximately $132,400 from 86 screens, leading to a cumulative total of $345,700. The distributor has been consistently releasing films and demonstrating positive box office results.
From Searchlight Pictures, Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On?, featuring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, surpassed the $1 million mark ahead of its expanded rollout, seeing a 22% increase from the previous weekend with a $250,000 gross across 33 theaters. The film is set to expand to over 1,000 theaters next week. Meanwhile, The Testament of Ann Lee, starring Amanda Seyfried, grossed $66,000 during its second weekend in a 70mm exclusive release, totaling $259,000 across four screens in New York and Los Angeles, with box office increases in three of those locations. It plans to expand on January 16.
Mubi’s Father Mother Sister Brother, from Jim Jarmusch, continued its platform rollout with an estimated $51,700 from four screens, bringing its total to $187,700. The distributor reported strong demand, including sold-out screenings, as the release gears up for nationwide expansion on January 9.
Top Box Office Rankings:
A24’s Marty Supreme ranked fourth in the domestic box office, grossing $12.5 million over the weekend and totaling $56 million. Angel Studios’ animated film David landed in seventh place, drawing in $8 million from 2,900 screens, accumulating $70 million overall.
Focus Features’ Song Sung Blue, directed by Craig Brewer and starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, secured the eighth position, earning $5.87 million over three days for a cumulative total of $25 million. It boasts a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and is performing well in midwestern markets, including Chicago and Minneapolis, as well as within regional theater circuits.
