Independents look solid this weekend with Vertical’s Widow Clicquot, a nice alternative offering amid the summer blockbuster season, IFC Film horror Oddity getting off to a good start, and Thelma, one of the year’s biggest specialty hits, crossing the $8 million mark. New releases and limited-release holdovers did business.
Official Trailer of Widow Clicquot (2024)
Thomas Napper's Widow Clicquot is looking at an estimated $190,000 box office in three days on about 100 screens. Haley Bennett stars as Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot in the true story of a 20-something woman who defies convention by taking over the reins of her wine business after her husband dies. Clicquot (1777-1866) defied her critics and eventually revolutionized the Champagne industry as one of the world's first great businesswomen. ("Veuve" is French for widow.)
The R-rated drama, written by Erin Dignam, has an 88% critics’ and audience test score on Rotten Tomatoes, a good sign for an extended run. The top five opening markets are LA, NY, San Francisco, Washington DC and Boston.
Vertical is quite active, but often. though not always, it does very limited day-and-date releases, so this is a nice number for them. Partner Peter Jarowey gave "a big thank you to our partners in Exhibition, big and small, for their support of Widow Clicquot, allowing moviegoers to enjoy Widow as a big screen experience."
