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Moviegoing is in full swing, and independent films are riding the wave. This weekend saw standout performances from Nuremberg and Sentimental Value, two very different but equally impactful debuts that helped lift the specialty box office amid a crowded marketplace led by Predator: Badlands.
Sony Pictures Classics’ Nuremberg, starring Russell Crowe and Rami Malek, opened impressively with $4.15 million across 1,802 locations, landing at No. 5 nationally. The historical thriller, directed by James Vanderbilt, explores the tense psychological battle between former Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Crowe) and U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Malek) during the Nuremberg Trials of 1945. The film has drawn audiences across both urban and suburban markets, performing well in red and blue states alike—a sign of its broad appeal.
“It’s a history that people are interested in, and an important picture for the times we are in,” said Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chair Michael Barker, who noted that Nuremberg plays as a “real theater-going experience.” He praised its craftsmanship and star power, calling it the kind of prestige film studios “used to make more often in the past.”
Crowds reportedly broke into applause during early screenings in Los Angeles and San Francisco, fueling strong word-of-mouth momentum. Barker added that while indie distributors must carefully weigh the risks of wide releases, the team had no doubts about Nuremberg’s commercial potential, citing its blend of history, star appeal, and cultural resonance.
Meanwhile, Neon scored one of the year’s best per-theater averages with Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier’s Cannes Grand Prix-winning drama. The film earned $200,000 from just four screens in New York and Los Angeles, averaging $50,000 per location—the best per-theater average for a foreign-language film since before the pandemic.
Starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value resonated deeply with audiences. Neon’s distribution chief Elissa Federoff praised Trier’s “emotional storytelling and impeccable craft,” confirming plans for a nationwide expansion through Thanksgiving.
The film’s domestic debut mirrors the trajectory of Trier’s 2022 breakout The Worst Person in the World, also released by Neon. Internationally, Sentimental Value has already doubled Worst Person’s opening in France and achieved one of Norway’s best box office openings in 25 years.
Other notable indie performances rounded out the weekend. Lynne Ramsay’s Die My Love from Mubi opened to $2.83 million on 1,983 screens—her biggest career opening—while David Michôd’s biopic Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney, grossed $1.3 million across 2,011 theaters.
Faith-based drama Sarah’s Oil from Amazon MGM opened to $4.5 million at 2,410 locations, marking a solid debut for the studio’s new partnership with The Wonder Project. Meanwhile, Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos’s surreal ensemble film, continued strong in its third week with $3.5 million for a cumulative $12.3 million.
With Wicked: For Good set to open on November 21, distributors acknowledge that competition is heating up. Yet, this weekend proved that quality storytelling and strong word of mouth can still pull audiences into theaters. As one indie executive summed it up: “It’s a great opportunity for audiences to see a bunch of things right now—and moviegoing season is in full swing.”
