One of the most unlikely box-officers now has the milestone to back it up. “Hundreds of beaver“The black and white, quiet, slapstick comedy released in theaters without formal distributionsurpassed $ 1 million on Cash office on a budget of just $ 150,000.
“They said it would never happen,” The movie tweeted on Tuesday. “Long live indie cinema! $ 150,000 budget and a dream. And thanks to the fans who got us here. Finally, thanks to our theater booker who has independently booked indie cinema for decades. She is a real movie soldier. We were really lucky that we found her. ”
“Back when we met $ 100,000 at the checkout, we were told that one hundred thousand is the new one million for truly independent editions, so we popped champagne,” “hundreds of beaver” leading producer Kurt Ravenwood said in a statement to IndieWire. “At this point, we are so out of champagne that we have used to drink the moonlight that my grandfather has in his basement. We are very drunk, very happy and so grateful for all the Indi theaters who took a chance on us. We hope that this encourages more filmmakers and studios to make films for the big screen. ”
OK, $ 1 million is not much in the big box-officer schedule-but for this filmIt’s a massive performance. After that debuted in 2022 and spent a year playing 50 movie festivals, The producers took the film on tour – Not on the coast, where most distributors usually begin – but in the Midwest, the filmmakers’ home grass.
Great Lakes Road Show began January 26, 2024; It did not meet New York and LA until March. Anyone who is a member of “Beaverati” knows that it is not just a screening; It is a live event with Vaudeville -comedy and a filmmaker Q&A. Sometimes it is interrupted by a beaver break match in the audience.
It was the beginning of the long (and ongoing) journey for “hundreds of beaver.” Finally, the film crossed $ 1 million in Germany: On February 13, “Beaverers” opened in 68 theaters across the country after the producers traded the film to exhibitors on “Filmunstmesse Leipzig”, an arthouse convention for German theater owners.
Lighthouse Entertainment, who collaborated with Ravenwood and other filmmakers at the time of publication, worked with the German partner 24 images to secure views on arenas such as Delphi Lux and Rollberg in Berlin and the Munich city site. The film continues to become a hit abroad and is now entering its fourth week in theaters. The film’s star Ryland Brickson Cole Tews is also on a tour in the UK, beats 40 cities in a four -month span and sells out each show.
Back in the US, the film continues to become a hit, and the team rolls out new surprises for dedicated return groups. They have Several 35 mm screeningsIncluding Los Angeles in the new Beverly March 28-30, as well as other views in Boston, New York City, Cleveland, Tucson, Portland, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Miami, San Francisco and more. It is new for some theaters while others take it back, with IFC in NY and Laemmle in LA host of anniversary shows later this month.
“Hundreds of beaver” had a huge turnout at the music box in Chicago and earned just under $ 8,000 from a single screening, the highest individual gross of all “beaver” showing. And the Brattle Theater in Cambridge earned MA over $ 5,000 over three exhibitions in a single day (although it was booked with only 10 days notice).
The film’s best markets include New York and Los Angeles, followed by Seattle, Boston, Chicago and Portland, but the team considers Seattle as “Beaver Central.” The film has played there at least once a month since March 2024, starting at the Grand Illusion Cinema, which is now temporarily closed. As a result, Seattle’s central cinema donated half of his “Beaver” box to help the Grand Illusion find a new home.
All this, and the film has already flowed since April last year and even got a special edition Blu-ray, as IndieWire first reported back in November.
Directed by Mike Cheslik, “Hundreds of Beavers” follows an Applejack seller Jean Kayak who, after beaver destroys his orchard and brewery, wanders the wilderness and fights for his survival. We see that the kayak becomes a champion fur dealer who works to gather enough beaver fur to win hand on a shop owner, but the prerequisite does not prepare you completely for the weirdness.
As for the “Soldier of Cinema”, the theatrical booker that makes “Hundreds of Bäver” film creators count their happy stars? Her name is Jessica Rosner and she has booked movies since 1985.
