Mubi CEO Efe Cakarel said the strong opening of Lance Oppenheim’s “Primetime” demonstrates that younger audiences are returning to cinemas and responding to original, ambitious films. He argued that the industry should continue financing and distributing bold independent storytelling, even though its audience is smaller than the mainstream market, because it remains large and engaged enough to support continued investment.

Cakarel said “Primetime” earned a $20 million opening weekend and attracted unexpectedly strong interest from younger viewers. He also described Mubi’s expansion from 40 employees after 15 years to more than 400 in the past four years, saying growth is intended to give the company the resources to finance and distribute films globally, including potential projects by Edward Berger. Reflecting on changing viewing habits, he said younger audiences are discerning and value high-quality cinema despite the dominance of blockbusters and short-form content.