It’s been another absolutely fabulous week for women at the box office. Not only because “AbFab: The Movie” is still putting bums on seats worldwide, but also thanks to the strength of two new women-centric openers.
“Equity,” from director Meera Menon and writer Amy Fox, opened in four New York and LA theaters on Friday, and grossed an impressive $81,000. As Deadline reports, that makes it the second highest opener of the week in the Specialty film bracket. The promising grosses seem fitting, seeing how the film follows a driven investment banker as she works to secure the deal of a lifetime. Women and Hollywood’s own Melissa Silverstein has praised “Equity,” and Anna Gunn’s performance in the central role, saying that the film “is not only a take on Wall Street: it also helps normalize female ambition, which is something that we as a culture need to become more comfortable with.” Be sure to check out her podcast with director Meera Menon to learn more about the film.
“Equity” isn’t the only women-centric movie to have done well over the weekend. Two-time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple brought her documentary about the inspiring story of funk and soul legend “Miss Sharon Jones!” to the IFC Center in New York, where it grossed $12,000. “What drew me to this story was Sharon’s own story of finding success, and her will to never give up on her dream no matter how many obstacles life has thrown at her,” Kopple told Women and Hollywood.
Meanwhile, the somewhat unlikely independent juggernaut that is “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie,” directed by Mandie Fletcher, is still going strong. The film’s handsome grosses in its second week seem to confirm that its appeal has successfully exceeded the cult status that the hit British TV series previously enjoyed in the US. The film, written by creator of the original series Jennifer Saunders, has already more than doubled its reported budget, with grosses approaching $25 million worldwide.