Indie Specialized Box Office Chart: Samara Weaving Crime Movie ‘Carolina Caroline’ Steals Top Spot

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- Carolina Caroline opened on 246 screens this weekend, earning $110,110 total (average $448 per location) and claimed the #1 spot on IndieWire’s specialized box office chart.
- Magnolia acquired the film and also released the Bob Odenkirk action film 'Normal,' which has grossed over $5 million domestically, though its limited releases for 'The Napa Boys' and 'Heel' are on far fewer screens.
- Jinsei opened on a single screen and generated $8,274, showing a strong per‑screen performance among the week’s limited openings.
- Tuner from Black Bear added enough screens to become ineligible for the specialized chart but still posted $652 K for the week, bringing its cumulative total to $3.1 million.
- Time and Water expanded from one to seven screens, raising its cumulative domestic gross to $20,511.
- IndieWire defines “specialized” releases as those from independent or mini‑major distributors whose widest release stays under 500 screens, excluding event cinema, re‑releases, and major Bollywood or Chinese North American films.
Why it matters: The $110,110 haul shows that independent distributors such as Magnolia can achieve top rankings on niche charts, demonstrating that modestly‑budgeted, limited‑release titles can compete financially with larger films and earn top‑spot recognition within the specialized market, underscoring the impact of niche audiences on box‑office performance.




