Surprise Sundance hit ‘Wicker’ on track to surpass $20M and enters awards contention

Black Bear’s Sundance acquisition of *Wicker* has become an unexpected box-office success and put the studio back in the awards conversation after last year’s near miss with *Train Dreams*. The film’s stronger-than-expected run is also a financial boost for the studio’s young US distribution business.

Black Bear bought the film for $2.5 million and initially expected it to earn $5 million to $7 million in total. It took $5.7 million in its opening weekend and another $4.4 million in its second; by Wednesday, its total had reached $15.9 million, with more than $20 million expected next week. The studio is campaigning Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård for acting nominations, alongside the film’s craft categories.