Transmission Films has reported that LION has posted the biggest ever opening weekend for an independent Australian film, and the 5th biggest opening weekend for an Australian film of all time.
The box office for the weekend of $4,155,636 (unaudited) puts LION behind only the studio films The Great Gatsby, Australia, Happy Feet and Mad Mad: Fury Road in the opening weekend record books. LION‘s total box, including previews, now stands at $4,967,656 (unaudited).
LION is also taking the world by storm. The film has also opened at number 1 at the NZ box office, number 4 at the UK box office and in the US has already taken $14.5m before going into wide release, with strong releases also posted in Canada, Italy and other major territories.
The Australian co-production, from director Garth Davis and screenwriter Luke Davies, tells the true story of a young Indian boy who is separated from his family when he mistakenly falls asleep on a train while waiting for his brother. Little does he know that he’s actually travelled over 1500km away from his village. Decades later, new technology allows an adult Saroo (Dev Patel) to start searching for the location of his lost home.
The film is now playing in Australian cinemas and around the world. You can check out full review here.
