A Complete Unknown
has now crossed a major milestone at the global box office as the Oscars ceremony approaches. Directed by James Mangold, the Bob Dylan biopic hit theaters on Christmas Day, with actor Timothée Chalamet portraying the iconic folk singer. A Complete Unknown reviews have been generally positive from critics and the film, which also stars Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, opened to $11.6 million on a budget that is reported to be between $60 million and $70 million.
Variety now reports that A Complete Unknown has crossed $100 million at the global box office. This total comprises $70 million in North America and $30 million from overseas. The film’s $100 million total makes it the sixth-highest domestic release of all time for Searchlight, and it is expected to pᴀss the fifth place movie, Sideways (2004) over the next few weeks. The new milestone comes just ahead of the 96th Academy Awards on March 2.
A Complete Unknown has been nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
What A Complete Unknown’s New Milestone Means For The Film’s Bottom Line
Will The Bob Dylan Movie Break Even?
With theater owners keeping about half of ticket sales, A Complete Unknown could be looking at a break-even point of $140 million, but this figure could be higher due to marketing costs. Although crossing the $100 million mark is an impressive feat for an R-rated specialty film, the relatively high budget means that A Complete Unknown likely won’t break even during its theatrical run. Now seven weeks into its run, the movie’s time in theaters is winding down.
Even though Mangold’s Dylan biopic may not be a commercial hit, it has fared well with critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie enjoys an 81% critics’ score and an impressive 96% audience score. Review praise the powerful A Complete Unknown cast, with Barbaro, who plays Joan Baez, emerging as a highlight. The film may not feature many surprises narratively or stylistically, but has ultimately been lauded as an effective portrayal of the life of one of the greatest figures of American music.
Our Take On A Complete Unknown’s New Box Office Milestone
Chalamet Is A True Movie Star
Though A Complete Unknown won’t break even in theaters, it marks an interesting new project for Chalamet, who has now essentially been cemented as one of the most notable new movie stars in Hollywood. Barbaro, too, after a somewhat minor role as part of the cast of Top Gun: Maverick, now seems poised to appear in far more movies and TV shows moving forward.
Chalamet is coming off of major successes with both Wonka (2023) and the acclaimed Dune: Part Two (2024).
For Mangold, A Complete Unknown follows the disastrous box office performance of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023, meaning he now hasn’t had a commercial hit since 2019’s Ford v Ferrari. Still, the positive critical reception to A Complete Unknown and its potential to perform well at the Oscars means the movie could ultimately emerge as a win.
Source: Variety
