Cats A Big Hit At Documentary Box Office

CatsVideoFest 2020 easily claims number one with more than $200k haul 

Cats, the big screen musical, coughed up a fur ball at the box office in late 2019. But the real thing -- not the hybrid human-feline CGI variety -- are tiptoeing into the hearts of moviegoers.

CatVideoFest 2020, "a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos," took the top spot among documentaries in theatrical release over the weekend, earning $217,927 in its debut weekend. The nonfiction film played at 30 locations, for a per screen average of $7,264, according to audience tracker comScore.com. 
​

CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need.

--From CatVideoFest.com

CatVideoFest is "culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and, of course, classic internet powerhouses," according to the film's website. "CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area."

One of the stars of "CatVideoFest 2020." From CatVideoFest.com

Another of the stars of "CatVideoFest 2020." From CatVideoFest.com

---

Related:
>Turkish delight: box office hit Kedi celebrates street cats of Istanbul
​>Documentary The Cat Rescuers stars Bubba, Mitsy, Wishbone and a handful of feline-friendly humans

---

Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band, another newcomer to theaters, finished in second place at the box office in its opening weekend. It made $37,828 according to comScore, but only played at four locations. Its per screen average was a healthy $9,457.

"Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band is a confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robertson’s young life and the creation of one of the most enduring groups in the history of popular music, The Band," according to the documentary's website. "The film is a moving story of Robertson’s personal journey, overcoming adversity and finding camaraderie alongside the four other men who would become his brothers in music, together making their mark on music history."

Daniel Roher directed the film; Martin Scorsese is among the executive producers (Scorsese directed the legendary 1978 film The Last Waltz, which documented The Band's final performance). 

The Band, back in the day. L-R Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, Robbie Robertson. Photo courtesy Magnolia Pictures ©Elliott Landy

Rounding out the top five at the doc box office were Cunningham, the 3D film about legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham directed by Alla Kovgan; Varda by Agnès, the final film from the late Agnès Varda, and Stuffed, the film about hip taxidermists directed by Erin Derham.

The top five:

1. CatVideoFest 2020 (Oscilloscope)
2. Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band (Magnolia Pictures)
3. Cunningham (Magnolia Pictures)
4. Varda by Agnès (Janus Films)
5. Stuffed (Music Box Films)

---

Related:
>Stuffed packed with cool taxidermists who want to preserve nature, not embalm it

---