The following list only includes domestic (U.S. and Canada only, unless otherwise indicated) grosses for specialty films — which we define to include independent, foreign (including Bollywood films), and/or documentary films — that opened in limited release (599 screens and under) in 2020 AND/OR were acquired or produced for 2020 distribution by an independent distributor (including STX Films, Annapurna, United Artists Releasing, A24, Entertainment Studios, IFC Films, Magnolia Pictures, Lionsgate, Amazon, Netflix, Aviron, Global Road, and Bleecker Street) or a studio or its specialty division (including Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics, and Focus Features).
Given the rapidly changing state of the box office world, this list only includes movies that have opened in theaters during 2020, including brick and mortar businesses and drive-ins. For more information on streaming and VOD box office takes, please check out our weekly updates in those markets right here.
When provided, this list also includes budgets for each film. Last year’s list can be found here.
Grosses include all reported grosses (via BoxOfficeMojo) up to December 28, 2020. This chart is updated every Tuesday afternoon.
-
1. “The Gentlemen”
Image Credit: STX Entertainment Distributor: STX Entertainment
Budget (if reported): $22M
Release Date: January 24
Opening Theater Count: 2,165
Opening Average: $4,920
Current Gross: $36,471,397Read IndieWire’s full review of “The Gentlemen.” Plus, read the news all about how the film will be turned into a new TV series.
-
2. “Unhinged”
Image Credit: Solstice Studios Distributor: Solstice Studios
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: August 14
Opening Theater Count: 299
Opening Average: $2,010
Current Gross: $20,831,465Read IndieWire’s full review of “Unhinged.” Plus, check out our look back at star Russell Crowe’s unpredictable career.
-
3. “The War with Grandpa”
Distributor: 101 Studios
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: October 9
Opening Theater Count: 2,250
Opening Average: $1,609
Current Gross: $18,388,744 -
4. “Gretel & Hansel”
Image Credit: United Artists Releasing Distributor: United Artists Releasing
Budget (if reported): $5M
Release Date: January 31
Opening Theater Count: 3,007
Opening Average: $2,046
Current Gross: $15,347,654 -
5. “Honest Thief”
Image Credit: Open Road Films Distributor: Open Road Films
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: October 16
Opening Theater Count: 2,425
Opening Average: $1,697
Current Gross: $14,163,574 -
6. “Brahms: The Boy II”
Image Credit: STX Entertainment Distributor: STX Entertainment
Budget (if reported): $10M
Release Date: February 21
Opening Theater Count: 2,151
Opening Average: $2,70
Current Gross: $12,611,536 -
7. “Emma”
Image Credit: Focus Features Distributor: Focus Features
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: February 21
Opening Theater Count: 5
Opening Average: $46,896
Current Gross: $10,055,355Read IndieWire’s full review of “Emma.” Plus, check out our interview with director Autumn de Wilde.
-
8. “I Still Believe”
Image Credit: Lionsgate Distributor: Lionsgate
Budget (if reported): $12M
Release Date: March 13
Opening Theater Count: 3,250
Opening Average: $2,801
Current Gross: $9,868,521 -
9. “Come Play”
Image Credit: Focus Features Distributor: Focus Features
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: October 30
Opening Theater Count: 2,138
Opening Average: $1,429
Current Gross: $9,470,280Check out IndieWire’s review of “Come Play,” plus our recent interview with star Gillian Jacobs.
-
10. “Let Him Go”
Image Credit: Focus Features Distributor: Focus Features
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: November 6
Opening Theater Count: 2,454
Opening Average: $1,630
Current Gross: $9,342,390Read IndieWire’s review of “Let Him Go.”
-
11. “Downhill”
Image Credit: Searchlight Pictures Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: February 14
Opening Theater Count: 2,301
Opening Average: $2,003
Current Gross: $8,287,061Read IndieWire’s full review of “Downhill.” Plus, check out our interview with the cast and crew from Sundance.
-
12. “Weathering with You”
Image Credit: GKIDS Distributor: GKIDS
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: January 15
Opening Theater Count: 486
Opening Average: $3,721
Current Gross: $7,798,743Read IndieWire’s full review of “Weathering with You.” Plus, read our interview with director Makoto Shinkai.
-
13. “The Broken Hearts Gallery”
Image Credit: Linda Kallerus/Sony Distributor: Sony (acquired in March)
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: September 11
Opening Theater Count: 2,209
Opening Average: $509
Current Gross: $4,066,169Read IndieWire’s full review of “The Broken Hearts Gallery.” Plus, read our interview with director and writer Natalie Krinsky.
-
14. “Infidel”
Image Credit: Cloudburst Entertainment Distributor: Cloudburst Entertainment
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: September 18
Opening Theater Count: 1,724
Opening Average: $802
Current Gross: $4,051,136 -
15. “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”
Image Credit: Neon Distributor: Neon (acquired at Cannes)
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: February 14
Opening Theater Count: 39
Opening Average: $67,344
Current Gross: $3,641,251Read IndieWire’s full review of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” Plus, check out our interview with director and writer Celine Sciamma.
-
16. “Bill & Ted Face the Music”
Image Credit: United Artists Releasing Distributor: United Artists Releasing
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: August 28
Opening Theater Count: 1,007
Opening Average: $1,117
Current Gross: $3,498,714Read IndieWire’s full review of “Bill & Ted Face the Music.” Plus, check out our interview with producer Steven Soderbergh.
-
17. “2020 Oscar Nominated Short Films”
Image Credit: Magnolia Pictures Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: January 31
Opening Theater Count: 465
Opening Average: $2,484
Current Gross: $3,306,611Read IndieWire’s full review of each category, inlcuding documentary, live-action, and animated entries.
-
18. “The Last Full Measure”
Image Credit: Roadside Attractions Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Budget (if reported): $20M
Release Date: January 24
Opening Theater Count: 614
Opening Average: $1,723
Current Gross: $2,949,212Check out IndieWire’s full review of “The Last Full Measure.”
-
19. “Words on Bathroom Walls”
Image Credit: Roadside Attractions Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: August 21
Opening Theater Count: 924
Opening Average: $468
Current Gross: $2,542,344Check out IndieWire’s full review of “Words on Bathroom Walls.”
-
20. “Half Brothers”
Image Credit: Focus Features Distributor: Focus Features
Budget (if reported): NA
Release Date: December 4
Opening Theater Count: 1,369
Opening Average: $511
Current Gross: $1,990,750
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
