It ended what -historically- has been the best month for Mexican cinema… and this was no exception. September 2022 became the “best” month at the box office for Mexican cinema so far this year and also the best for Mexican cinema in the 30 months of the Covid-Era.
Why “the best” in quotes? Because although the ten national releases of the month CASI combined reached $100 million pesos (MDP), the four highest-grossing films of the month fell far short of their expectations and even far from other Mexican films released during a pandemic in more complicated times. What The waiter ($61 million pesos in July 2022) and A rescue of eggs ($50.4 million pesos in August 2022, in the midst of the third wave of infections).
In box office order, these are the four highest-grossing Mexican films in September 2022:
- I’m your fan: The movie. $31 million pesos, with a view to ending with $32-34 million pesos (premiere: September 8). The film version of the TV series (which will have a sequel… ooooagain as a series) became the first Mexican film in a pandemic to debut in first place.
- When I’m young. $27 million pesos, with a view to ending with $40 million pesos (premiere: September 15). Verónica Castro returns to the cinema after three decades. Its director, Raúl Martínez, will be the first filmmaker to exceed $100 million pesos in a pandemic with Mexican films, adding the income from The waiter and this comedy.
- The evil eye. $23 million pesos, with a view to exceeding $40 million pesos (premiere: September 22). Isaac Ezban’s film will have the title of the highest grossing Mexican horror film in a pandemic, above the sleeper-hit Play with me ($31 million pesos) and The exorcism of Carmen Farias ($30 million pesos).
- lessons for scoundrels. $12.8 million pesos, final box office (premiere: September 1). The comedy with Joaquín Cossío kicked off the month.
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Together, these four films add up to $94 million pesos. Six other Mexican films complete the list and together add up to around $3 million pesos:
- Jump to life. Independent action film that grossed $1.0 million pesos.
- Sactorum. It finally came to theaters! At the end of the month it totaled $0.18 million pesos.
- 50 (or two whales meet on the beach). The winner of FICM 2021 exceeds $0.20 million pesos.
- Observe the birds. The extraordinary documentary by Andrea Martínez Crowther is still on the billboard and is heading for $0.10 million pesos.
- The other Tom. The 2022 Ariel nominee for best picture debuted in theaters on September 29.
- Eagle and Jaguar: The Legendary Warriors. The Mexican animation directed by Mike R. Ortiz debuted in theaters on September 29.
Will the streak continue in October? No… although perhaps they could surprise Tell me about you (coming-of-age which debuts on October 6), oaxacalifornia (documentary nominated for Ariel in its category, with premiere on October 6) and Bardo, False Chronicle of a Few Truthsthe one chosen by Mexico for the Oscar for Best International Film, with theatrical release on October 27.
Corollary: box office surprises
As data, September also brought some surprising successes, such as The orphan: The originwhich comfortably exceeded $100 million pesos before the end of the month, and Avatar, that in its two weeks of re-release will separate the $40-45 million pesos. With this, it will advance from 34th place in the historical box office in Mexico ($575 million pesos) to 26th place (+$615 million pesos).
edgar apanco Fan-from-hell of movie numbers. He was an editor of business magazines (no, that’s not where his love for numbers comes from). Today he is an expert in box office reports and content marketing (content marketing… #OkNo).