Hello everyone,
BOX OFFICE: The low budget independent release “Backrooms” blew past all predictions to make $81 on its opening weekend in 3,442 screens (about 900 screens less than “Star Wars The Mandalorian and Grogu” played in). Also, the #2 movie of this past weekend was the box office sensation “Obsession” which – once again – MADE MORE MONEY THAN IT DID THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND. It added only 126 screens but the box office was $27.3 million (last week it was $23.9). Last week’s #1 movie “Star Wars The Mandalorian and Grogu” fell an incredible 70% from last weekend to make $24 .4 million and was third on the box office chart this weekend.
Overall domestic box office gross was $179.8 which was just slightly higher than the 3-day box office for Memorial Day weekend last week.
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: Internationally, “Backrooms” made $118 million worldwide which is the largest opening weekend for any movie released by A24. Also, Kane Parson, the 20-year-old director is the youngest director to have a #1 opening weekend. Also of note is that the #1 movie worldwide for 2026 (so far) “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is now just a hair below a billion dollars currently at $992.4 million. “Michael” is also still doing well passing $850 million worldwide.
OTHER NEWS:
- Today the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced, “a new honor that “celebrates” moviegoing and the great tradition of the theatrical experience”. The honor will include 25 movie theaters in the US and 25 international movie theaters. The announcement said….
“We are thrilled to launch the Academy Marquee Theater List, which will celebrate moviegoing and honor theaters that bring communities together through the power of cinematic storytelling. From classic movie palaces, to multiplexes, to independent cinemas, the Academy Marquee Theater List will recognize the best movie theaters around the world and unite our global film industry.”
Eligible movie theaters must be brick-and-mortar theaters that operate year-round and can be located anywhere in the world. Theaters may show first-run films or repertory screenings. A maximum of 10 theaters operated by the same theater chain or owner may be submitted in a single submission cycle but it will include a fee per submission.
The evaluation criteria for the movie theaters include the following factors: community engagement, visual and audio presentation, programming diversity, inclusion and accessibility, historic significance, and preservation, theater design, lighting, conditions, and concessions.
Selected movie theaters won’t be getting an actual Oscar statuette or necessarily any recognition of the Academy Awards themselves but will receive a physical certification to display in their lobbies.
- The somewhat mysterious J.J. Abrams produced movie coming out in August – “The End of Oak Street” recently released a full trailer. It seems to be about a street that goes through time to the time of the dinosaurs. You can view the new trailer here.
- The documentary “Ask E Jean” about the legal battle between President Trump and E Jean Carroll will now expand their release schedule since the DOJ has started new investigations into the woman that – so far – has won every court battle against the president.
- The inevitable sequel to 2025 hit movie the “The Minecraft Movie” has been named “The Minecraft Squared” and will be released July 2027. They also announced, “The Minecraft Movie Build Challenge”. The winning build of the contest will appear in the sequel.
LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR: “The Backrooms” started as a cultural phenomenon “creepypasta” (a horror story, legend, or paranormal tale that is shared across the internet, designed to frighten readers – sort of a modern urban legend) but now that it’s a hit movie the director wants to stress that he DID NOT create the original internet video.
In other words – if someone wants to send ANOTHER cease-and-desist letter – send it to someone else. You can watch him answer the question on Instagram at this link.
LOS ANGELES FILM REVIEW 