While so many movies have been delayed or re-scheduled amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a little indie horror movie called THE WRETCHED has taken advantage of a pretty barren box office. The film has managed to become successful in a very unconventional marketplace and now this little horror movie that could has passed a milestone.
This might seem like a small amount in the grand scheme of things but THE WRETCHED has just passed the $1 million mark after taking in an additional $162,000 over the weekend. The film is currently playing on 95 screens and the majority of them have been drive-in theaters which have seen a resurgence after major theater chains closed due to the coronavirus. Making THE WRETCHED's run even more impressive is that the film has been available on VOD so there is the option to watch it home but moviegoers and horror fans are seeking it out to watch at theaters that still happen to be open.
THE WRETCHED was previously reported to have ruled the box office for five weekends in a row but this technically isn't the case. Major studios have chosen to not report box office numbers until more movie theaters reopen while IFC, the indie studio behind THE WRETCHED, has been reporting their numbers to outlets. TROLLS WORLD TOUR has actually topped the box office for over 8 weeks but since Universal Pictures isn't officially reporting the numbers, THE WRETCHED appeared to have those bragging rights. The fact of the matter is, IFC has made the most out of a pretty dire situation and has taken advantage of a pretty empty marketplace. Their films SWALLOW and HOW TO BUILD A GIRL have also been playing in drive-ins across the U.S. as well.
THE WRETCHED follows a defiant teenage boy that is struggling with his parents' imminent divorce. The boy is soon facing off with a thousand-year-old witch, who is living beneath the skin off and posing as the woman next door. The film stars John-Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Jamison Jones, Azie Tesfai, and Zarah Mahler.
I have yet to see this movie but I think it's cool that a film that was probably only expected to gain attention in horror circles, has now become the face of how successful the drive-in theater business has been in the recent months. It really is a throwback to how things used to be and it would be cool to continue to see films gain success in this arena moving forward.
Have YOU checked out THE WRETCHED?