This weekend at the domestic box office was a mixed bag, with international hits dominating the top five and two films about Hollywood legends taking very different paths. While I Play Rocky, the Sylvester Stallone biopic, soared in limited release, the new Jimmy Stewart film, Jimmy, stumbled in its wide debut.
Jimmy, starring KJ Apa as the iconic actor, opened in nearly 1,500 theaters but failed to crack the top 10, grossing only about $2 million over the weekend. That's a modest haul, especially when compared to fellow newcomer Wild Horse Nine, which earned $6 million despite playing in 400 fewer theaters. The weekend's top spot went to Japan's Godzilla Minus Zero, which stomped its way to roughly $32 million.
Despite the weak box office, Jimmy has struck a chord with audiences. The film holds a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, a stark contrast to its 63% critics' score. This disconnect suggests that while critics may be lukewarm, general moviegoers are embracing the film. That kind of word-of-mouth could pay off down the line, especially when Jimmy hits the premium video-on-demand (PVOD) market, where strong audience scores often translate to strong rental numbers.
A Story of Service and Stardom
Directed with a focus on a pivotal chapter in Stewart's life, Jimmy chronicles his journey from Oscar-winning actor to World War II soldier and back again. After enlisting in the army, Stewart returned to Hollywood to star in the beloved classic It's a Wonderful Life. The film also features Jason Alexander, Neal McDonough, and Rob Riggle in supporting roles.
Produced on a reported budget of $14 million, Jimmy is a passion project that aims to honor the legacy of one of cinema's most beloved stars. While its theatrical run may not be setting records, the film's resonance with audiences could give it a second life on streaming platforms. In fact, similar films have found success after their theatrical windows, as seen with Crime 101's surprising longevity on Prime Video.
Box Office Battle of the Biopics
The weekend also saw I Play Rocky make a splash in limited release, earning nearly $350,000 from just seven theaters—an impressive per-theater average of almost $50,000. With a Certified Fresh 89% critics' score, the Stallone biopic is already being talked about as an Oscar contender. Its success highlights the appetite for stories about Hollywood legends, a trend that Jimmy hopes to tap into as it continues its run.
Next week, another biopic, Hershey, will hit theaters, aiming for a similar audience. Whether it can outperform Jimmy remains to be seen, but the genre clearly has a dedicated following.
For now, Jimmy is still playing in theaters, and with its stellar audience score, it may find new life in the coming weeks. As the film industry watches how this story unfolds, one thing is certain: the legacy of Jimmy Stewart continues to inspire, both on screen and off.
