The 20 Highest Grossing Indies of 2016 (A Running List)

Please note: The below list only includes domestic (U.S. and Canada only, unless otherwise indicated) grosses for specialty films — indie, foreign (including Bollywood films that open in limited release) and/or documentary — that opened in limited release (599 screens and under) in 2016 and/or were acquired for 2016 distribution at a film festival by an independent distributor or a studio (or its speciality division). It also includes films that screened only as an Academy-qualifier in 2015. Grosses include all reported grosses up to August 30, 2016. This chart is updated every Tuesday afternoon. (Last year’s list can be found here.)

1. “The Witch”
Distributor: A24
Release Date: February 19th
Opening Theater Count: 2,046
Opening Average: $4,301
Current Gross: $25,138,292

2. “Eye in the Sky”
Distributor: Bleecker Street
Release Date: March 11th
Opening Theater Count: 5
Opening Average: $22,761
Current Gross: $18,704,595

“The Witch”

3. “Hello, My Name is Doris”
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Release Date: March 11th
Opening Theater Count: 4
Opening Average: $21,247
Current Gross: $14,444,999

4. “Love & Friendship”
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Release Date: May 13th
Opening Theater Count: 4
Opening Average: $33,378
Current Gross: $13,984,602

5. “Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party”
Distributor: Quality Flix
Release Date: July 15th
Opening Theater Count: 3
Opening Average: $24,938
Current Gross: $12,474,212

6. “The Lady in the Van”Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: December 4th (2015 Academy-qualifying runOpening Theater Count:)
Opening Average:
Current Gross: $10,021,175

“Love & Friendship”

7.“Cafe Society”
Distributor: Lionsgate/Amazon
Release Date: July 15th
Opening Theater Count: 5
Opening Average: $71,858
Current Gross: $9,989,005

8. “Hardcore Henry”
Distributor: STX
Release Date: April 8th
Opening Theater Count: 3,015
Opening Average: $1,694
Current Gross: $9,252,038

9. “The Lobster”
Distributor: A24
Release Date: May 13th
Opening Theater Count: 4
Opening Average: $47,563
Current Gross: $8,685,182

10. “Hell or High Water”
Distributor: Lionsgate
Release Date: August 12th
Opening Theater Count: 32
Opening Average: $19,417
Current Gross: $8,391,030

11.“A Beautiful Planet”
Distributor: IMAX
Release Date: April 29th
Opening Theater Count: 137
Opening Average: $1,635
Current Gross: $5,653,889

12. “Sultan”
Distributor: Yash Raj
Release Date: July 6th
Opening Theater Count: 283
Opening Average: $8,375
Current Gross: $5,599,781

13. “Captain Fantastic”
Distributor: Bleecker Street
Release Date: July 8th
Opening Theater Count: 4
Opening Average: $23,456
Current Gross: $5,041,831

14.“Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie”
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Release Date: July 22nd
Opening Theater Count: 313
Opening Average: $5,946
Current Gross: $4,655,455

15. “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”
Distributor: The Orchard
Release Date: June 24th
Opening Theater Count: 5
Opening Average: $15,688
Current Gross: $4,387,301

16. “The Meddler”
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: April 22nd
Opening Theater Count: 4
Opening Average: 14,256
Current Gross: $4,267,218

17.“A Hologram for the King”
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Release Date: April 22nd
Opening Theater Count: 401
Opening Average: $2,839
Current Gross: $4,212,494