Indies including newcomer Runner and holdover Buddy nabbed five of the top 10 spots at the domestic box office this weekend. If I Go Will They Miss Me had a terrific exclusive opening in L.A., and documentary American Doctor passed $400k.

Late-summer original horror-comedy hit Buddy from Roadside Attractions and Saban Films grossed $3.5 million in week three, landing at no. 6 on 1,719 screens with an estimated $21.2 million cume. The R-rated pic about kids on a ’90s style retro television show who defy their orange unicorn host, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, fell just 39% for the weekend. It’s Roadside’s fifth highest grossing film and strongest box office performer since Covid. Buddy has over 1 million followers on TikTok and Roadside is hearing anecdotally that moviegoers are coming back three and four times to see it and bringing others. Sepulveda Tattoo in Duarte was mobbed yesterday offering a meet-up with Buddy and a free, exclusive Buddy tattoo designed by Hunter Chao.

Among new releases, Angel Studios’ Runner starring Reacher’s Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson is no. 4 at $6.67 million on 2,568 screens; Neon’s South Korean monster movie Hope at no. 8 in 1,560 theaters on a $3.3 million weekend ($5 million cume since its Wed. debut); and Andrew Garfield-starring The Uprising from Focus Features with $3.2 million at 2,068 locations pulling up at no. 9.

Angel was upbeat about Runner’s A- CinemaScore, calling the release a “significant theatrical milestone” for the company. It had a great summer with Young Washington, which topped out at $47 million.

Coyote vs. Acme from Ketchup Entertainment, at 3,355 locations, is no. 5 this weekend, loping along with a $6.23 million gross and $47.8 million cume.  

A24’s holdover Tony continues to serve up strong numbers with $497k on 380 screens in week six for a cume of $14.7 million. Onslaught is at $278k on 1,252 screens in week two for a cume of $3 million.

Prathyangira Cinemas’ Hanuman Ansh debuted to $740k from 200 locations, as per Rentrak.

Limited: If I Go Will They Miss Me starring Danielle Brooks and J Alphonse Nicholson and directed by Walter Thompson-Hernandez, a Rich Spirit release, opened exclusively at AMC’s Century City in Los Angeles to $42.25k with multiple sellouts and additional showtimes added to heep up with demand. This is the second-highest opening of the year for a solo engagement since Maddie’s Secret from Magnolia Pictures with $58k (at the IFC). Expands to 250 theaters next week.

Watermelon Pictures’ American Doctor topped $400k with a $66.2k gross in week five on 65 screens. The documentary follows three U.S. doctors who voluntarily go to Gaza to help save as many lives as possible.

Event cinema: Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger from Disney opened at $1.435 million at 1,225 theaters.

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