Sarah’s Oil arrived with the kind of confident whisper that usually hints at a slow and steady march toward awards season. The biopic, adapted from Tonya Bolden’s 2014 book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America, carried strong critical support before its release, and many expected a respectable showing for Amazon MGM Studios. The studio believed the modest $18 million budget would be easy to handle, yet the film’s run at the box office has turned into one of the biggest low-budget disappointments of the year.
Sarah’s Oil Box Office Performance So Far
The movie entered theatres on November 7, sharing the week with Predator: Badlands and Nuremberg. Badlands stole nearly all the attention with strong action appeal, and Nuremberg held steady with its own audience. Sarah’s Oil, meanwhile, slipped under the bright lights the moment it stepped onto 2,410 screens across the United States. The opening day brought in $1.7 million, which looked acceptable for a low-budget drama. Still, the weekend total stopped at a little above $4.2 million, averaging $1,768 per theatre and landing at number 4 on the weekend chart. It never climbed any higher after that.
The decline arrived fast as the second weekend slipped to $2.2 million. The third dropped again to around $800,000, a sign that the audience interest faded quicker than expected. The film’s domestic and overseas figures for the last weekend remain unknown, but the total so far sits at $10.6 million, as per Box Office Mojo.
As a result, the total makes the required $45 million break-even point look miles away. The studio now faces the reality that the theatrical run brought more worry than reward.
Competition & Subject Of The Film Limit Audience Appeal
Many believe the film’s topic did not resonate with a broad audience, and weak word of mouth diminished the momentum before it could build. Besides, competition from strong and watchable titles at the same time added more weight to the film’s shoulders. People turned toward louder or easier choices, leaving Sarah’s Oil with little room to breathe.
Streaming May Offer A Second Chance
There is still a sliver of good news for the team behind the film. As Oscar season approaches, interest in streaming tends to rise for prestige dramas. Prime Video will eventually give Sarah’s Oil a fresh life, and the digital run is expected to recover a fair share of the investment. The movie may discover the audience it never reached in theatres once it settles into homes, where quieter stories often find their place.
Note: Box office numbers are based on estimates and various sources. Numbers have not been independently verified by Koimoi.
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