Sony Pictures Classics' _The Only Living Pickpocket in New York_, starring John Turturro, has proven to be a significant draw, expanding from a mere six screens to over 1,100 in its second week. This strategic rollout saw the film pull in an impressive $1.9 million over the weekend, pushing its estimated cumulative gross to $2.1 million. The story follows an aging New York pickpocket embroiled with a crime family after stealing a valuable USB drive. Critics have embraced the film, which boasts a Certified Fresh 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 95% audience score. Turturro's compelling performance has already earned him a Gotham Award nomination and the Golden Eye Award at the Zurich Film Festival.
Meanwhile, the National Geographic documentary _Everest: The Other Side_, from acclaimed filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, successfully scaled its box office debut, earning $1 million across 515 locations. A substantial portion of this success, $825,000, came from IMAX screenings, highlighting the appeal of experiencing the breathtaking mountain on the largest possible canvas. The directing duo also engaged in a memorable marketing stunt, rappelling down a 12-story building on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, drawing considerable attention to their latest cinematic endeavor.
Netflix also made its presence felt with two notable releases. Peter Berg's World War II drama _The Mosquito Bowl_, a historical account of college football stars drafted into Marine training and the Pacific theater, opened to $455,000 on 349 screens. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgard, Raymond Nicholson, and Tom Francis. Another Netflix title, _La Bola Negra_, continued its solid run, adding $418,000 in its third week for a cumulative total of $1.2 million.
The broader specialty market saw a mix of new entries and strong holdovers. Mubi's _Fatherland_, a drama starring Hans Zischler and Sandra Hüller, earned $122,000 in its second week, bringing its total to $250,500. Neon's Certified Fresh documentary _Once Upon A Time In Harlem_ collected $91,000 in its third week, reaching a $273,000 cume. Greenwich Entertainment's _Queen At Sea_, Lance Hammer's sophomore feature starring Juliette Binoche, debuted with $10,000 at New York City's Angelika Film Center, having previously won a Silver Bear Jury Prize at Berlin.
Among other new releases, the Telugu-language action comedy _Aadarsha Kutumbam House No: 47_ from Shloka Entertainments made a significant splash with $1.1 million across 400 locations. Roadside Attractions' _Sight & Sound Presents: JOSHUA Live!_ garnered $758,000, while Briarcliff Entertainment's _Christmas at the Kringles_ opened to $675,000. Samuel Goldwyn Films' Liam Neeson-led _The Mongoose_ debuted with $480,000, and the psychological horror _Breeder_ launched to an estimated $293,000.
Strong performances from wide indie holdovers continued to impress. A24's Elizabeth Holmes documentary _You Can See Everything_ added over $10 million in its third weekend, pushing its total past $63 million. Laika's animated _Wildwood_ is tracking towards a $7-$8 million second weekend, aiming to surpass $25 million. Black Bear's _Wicker_ showed robust staying power, grossing $4.1 million in its second week for a $13.3 million cume, with its distributor noting strong word-of-mouth. Focus Features' _Sense & Sensibility_ also saw $1.4 million in its second week, bringing its total to $16.8 million.
