Wicker Grosses $15.9 Million in Theaters
Black Bear's first acquisition, the Sundance-acquired film Wicker, is expanding its theatrical run after a strong opening.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Film — General
Black Bear released Wicker in theaters after acquiring it at the Sundance Film Festival for $2.5 million. The film has grossed $15.9 million through Wednesday and is expected to surpass $20 million next week.
Why it matters
Wicker's performance exceeds the studio's original $5 million to $7 million gross projection, marking an early commercial win for Black Bear's distribution business. The results show how a festival acquisition can grow beyond initial expectations in a crowded fall release calendar.
Wicker opened with $5.7 million on more than 1,400 screens and added $4.4 million after expanding to 2,300 screens in its second weekend, reaching $15.9 million through Wednesday. The film's total run beyond this week has not been finalized, and the $20 million milestone remains a projection.
The players
Black Bear
Black Bear is a film distribution company that acquired Wicker at the Sundance Film Festival for $2.5 million, its first-ever acquisition.
Olivia Colman
Olivia Colman is an Academy Award-winning English actress who stars in Wicker alongside Alexander Skarsgard.
Alexander Skarsgard
Alexander Skarsgard is a Swedish actor known for his leading roles in television and film, and he stars in Wicker alongside Olivia Colman.
The details
Wicker, which stars Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgard and is from Tango and Topic Studios, received a Rotten Tomatoes score in the 90s. The film also played on around 80 4DX screens, with a run expanded from one day to a week.
Timeline
Sundance Film Festival (2026): Black Bear acquired Wicker for $2.5 million.
Opening weekend (November 2026): Wicker opened with $5.7 million on more than 1,400 screens.
Second weekend (November 2026): Wicker expanded to 2,300 screens and earned $4.4 million.
Through Wednesday (November 2026): Wicker reached $15.9 million in total gross.
Expected next week (November 2026): Wicker is projected to surpass $20 million.
Industry Dynamics
Wicker's theatrical run reflects how festival acquisitions bought at Sundance are now being tested against the studio's own projections in the wide-release market. The film's performance is a data point in the ongoing business of mid-budget films competing for screens against major fall releases.
Wicker is playing in theaters through most of November, giving audiences a window to see the film on the big screen. Viewers who want the experience can find it on around 80 4DX screens, where the run has been extended from a single day to a full week.
The takeaway
Wicker's early numbers show that a festival acquisition can outperform its initial projection when a distributor expands screens quickly. Readers tracking independent films should watch whether the $20 million milestone is reached next week.
What happens next
Wicker is expected to play in theaters through most of November, and Godzilla Minus Zero is expected to land at No. 1 this weekend, which will shape the film's competition.
Further reading
For more on how independent titles perform after festival sales, explore Film — General coverage.
