Here’s IndieWire’s Tom Brueggemann detailing this historic box-office debut for A24. However, whether the film can recoup its $50 million budget is a whole other story:
Alex Garland’s “Civil War” opened to an estimated $25.7 million this weekend, nearly double the best wide opening for any previous A24 title. It’s also about $7 million more than the combined openings last weekend for “Monkey Man” (Universal) and “The First Omen” (Disney).
Despite its B- Cinemascore, the near-future domestic dystopia came in over 25 percent better than projections. The A24 brand, the indefatigable war theme, advance interest (including a widely covered SXSW premiere), topicality, originality, IMAX sales, and mostly positive reviews propelled it to success.
With a reported production cost of at least $50 million, and uncertainty about foreign interest (initial grosses incomplete), it will need to be more than an initial sensation. Even so, particularly with likely significant post-theatrical interest, it initially appears that A24’s risk will pay off.