A24’s afterlife romcom Eternity by David Freyne opened at no. 6 at the domestic box office as it picked up traction over the holiday weekend thanks to strong word of mouth. The film grossed about $3.2 million for the three-day weekend (and $5.2 million over the five-day holiday frame) on 1,348 screens.

The TIFF-premiering title, one of the highest-testing ever for A24, stars a love triangle of Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner, alongside Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph and John Early. A24 produced the film with Star Thrower Entertainment. Certified Fresh at 90% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes (75% with critics), it expands next week.

The film is being comped to Priscilla and We Live In Time, which both opened at just a handful of locations but moved quickly to moderate nationwide runs similar to Eternity‘s before going wider. We Live in Time went from 985 to 2,900 theaters and an eventual cume just shy of $25 million. Priscilla jumped from 1,300 to 2,300 screens for an ultimate gross of $21 million.

Eternity is one of a number of recent releases moviegoers seem to really like that are contending with a packed market on a U.S. holiday frame overwhelmed by Disney’s Zootopia 2 the week after Wicked: For Good. It’s a market that, it bears repeating sometimes, has been reshaped since Covid with a much tougher road and higher bar for original IP, romcoms and independent films in general.

“Crowded, but good to see people out in cinemas,” said one indie distribution CEO.

Oscar contender Hamnet from Focus Features opened to $880k at 119 theaters (and no. 8 spot), booking an estimated $1.35 million over the five days. By Chloe Zhao, the story of love and loss that that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet stars Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn. Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes are producers. Winner of the TIFF People’s Choice Award and the Audience Award at BFI London. At 91% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes (89% with critics). Expands next weekend.

Rental Family from Searchlight Pictures is no. 7 in week 2 at 1,925 theaters with $2.1 million for the three days, $3.1 million for the five and a cume of $7.4 million for the film by Hikari starring Brendan Fraser. At 96% with RT audiences.

Nuremberg, out for four weeks and in the top ten for each of them, grossed $749k on 540 screens (down from 1,010) for a cume of $12.5 million. By James Vanderbilt, starring Russell Crowe and Rami Malek. At 96% with RT audiences (70% with critics).

Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro is reporting that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery by Netflix, grossed about $4 million at 600 theaters, for the five-day frame. The streamer doesn’t report theatrical grosses so is not included in Comscore rankings.

New limited openings: Neon’s political thriller The Secret Agent opened to a $46k 3-day weekend and $70.6 for the 5-days at 2 theaters (NYC’s Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Angelika). Kleber Mendonça Filho of Brazil won Best Director at Cannes and star Wagner Moura Best Actor. Reviews are topping out at a lofty 99% on RT with a 96% audience score, both Certified Fresh. It has a 91% score on Metacritic, one of the highest ratings of the year for a narrative film.

Abramorama tribute concert film You Got Gold: A Celebration Of John Prine by Michael John Warren debuted to $10.3k at the Quad in NYC.

The Tale of Silyan, by Tamara Kotevska, from Picturehouse, grossed $6.5k at IFC Center in New York.