Oscar Nominated Shorts Make History: ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ Ranks in Top 10 While ‘Hamnet’ Captivates Audiences This Oscar Weekend
A beloved 1989 Studio Ghibli classic, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and the latest edition of Oscar-nominated shorts, including the eight-time nominee Hamnet, are enjoying a successful weekend at the box office.
Roadside Attractions’ inaugural release of the Oscar Nominated Shorts has shattered box office records for the annual series, which features a trio of animated, live-action, and documentary shorts. This year’s program is projected to bring in approximately $3.676 million across 391 locations, adding to a cumulative total of $3.6 million. Notably, the previous record for the series was set in 2019, when it reached a total of $3.53 million.
Howard Cohen, co-president of Roadside Attractions, stated that the distributor “dug deeper” with a broader release strategy. The shorts have been playing in theaters for four weeks, with different circuits screening various strands at different times. To amplify visibility, Roadside expanded its marketing efforts, partnering with Taika Waititi to leverage his vast social media following, while former Oscar announcer Cedering Fox provided narration for the trailers.
“We’re hoping to make it an annual tradition,” Cohen remarked.
Meanwhile, GKids’ rerelease of Kiki’s Delivery Service debuted at number seven in the domestic box office, earning $1.67 million from just 249 screens. This new 4K remaster is being presented exclusively in IMAX, continuing a collaboration between GKids and Studio Ghibli that began with the release of Princess Mononoke in 4K last spring. Upcoming screenings include a one-day engagement of Whisper of the Heart (1995) on April 21 and The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) on May 19.
Focus Features’ Hamnet garnered $200,000 this weekend from 468 screens, bringing its domestic total to $24.1 million as it enters its 17th week in theaters. The film, which opened in the U.S. on November 26, has maintained steady audience interest. At its lowest attendance, it screened in 232 theaters, and during its widest release on January 22, following its Oscar nominations, it expanded to 1,996 theaters. It received eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
Hamnet has also surpassed $100 million in worldwide gross this weekend.
Bleecker Street introduced Amy Wang’s body horror satire, Slanted, this weekend across 588 theaters, achieving a debut of $617,000.
