Solid performance of Triangle of Sadness in France, US - slow climb in the Nordics

Since its triumphal world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness has travelled to 23 world festivals, and has opened in 14 territories.

Worldwide distributors who acquired the film in Cannes are facing the difficult theatrical market conditions post-Covid, but the strong level of awareness, overall strong reviews, cast and name director are making it a must see in the arthouse/cross-over market.

Outside the Nordics, the film is performing solidly in France, where 421,000 people have watched it after three weeks on release under Bac Films’ banner.

In comparison, Östlund’s previous Palme d’or The Square sold 350,000 tickets for its entire screen run in France in 2017, according to the Swedish Film Institute.

In the US, the Neon release is one of the top performers in the arthouse segment and entered the top 10 US last weekend, after widening its screen run from 31 to 280 screens. The film earned an extra $601,052 for a cumulated $1.4 million gross in its third weekend, with a per screen average of $2,147.

In the Nordics, the SF Studios release is slowing adding up numbers.

First out in Denmark September 22, the film has sold 67,175 tickets so far, slightly above The Square’s 60,466 tally over the same period. “So far we’re very happy with the numbers” said SF Studios’ Head of Nordic Acquisition Yaba Holst who expects the final count to reach 100,000 and exceed by around 20,000 the distributor’s original estimates.

In Finland the social satire gained a high visibility and media coverage from its selection as opener of the Helsinki International Film Festival-Love & Anarchy.

So far more than 11,000 Finns have watched it on local screens, and SF Studios expects the film to be Östlund’s biggest grosser ever, “if it manages to stay on screens over the Christmas holidays, which is typical for high quality films like Triangle of Sadness”, said Holst, who admits that it will be a slow run.

In Sweden where Östlund took part in a large promotional campaign, travelling to 10 cities and visiting 18 cinemas in its first weekend with actor Henrik Dorsin, the film opened with admissions 31% over estimates for its first three days said Pia Grünler, SF Studios Nordic Head of Theatrical Distribution.

As of October 25, after 12 days, the film has attracted 73,000 Swedes. Compared to The Square which totalled 191,000 admissions, this is 11% down in admissions but 5% up in gross box.office.

Compared to the Swedish director’s 2014 film Force Majeure (which ended up with 188,0000 admissions), this is 15% up in admissions and 60% in revenues. SF Studios bets on final estimates of 170,000 admissions for Triangle of Sadness, which will put it in line with Östlund’s previous films in Sweden, said the major distributor.

In Norway where the market is still struggling to bring back the older arthouse core audience after Covid, the film has sold 25,000 tickets [as of October 25] in its second weekend, according to SF Studios, which estimates the final count to reach 30, 000.

Numerous territories are still to launch the major European co-production starring Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean and Woody Harrelson, such as the UK/Ireland this Friday.