DirectorJames Mangold’s latest film,A Complete Unknown, hasn’t yet opened internationally, but it has already passed the half-century mark at the domestic box office. Having debuted over the lucrative Christmas period,A Complete Unknownheld its ground amid heftier tent poles such asMoana 2,Mufasa: The Lion King, andSonic the Hedgehog 3. In just 20 days of release, the film hasgenerated over $50 million domestically, and is on the verge of entering an elite list of successful music biopics. StarringTimothée Chalametin the lead role, the film is based on the early career of the iconicBob Dylan.
With just over $51 million in the bank,A Complete Unknownis passing the classic filmAmadeus' lifetime haul to becomethe 11th-biggest music biopic of all time.Mangold cited it as an inspirationforA Complete Unknown. Based on the play of the same name,Amadeusimagines a rivalry betweenWolfgang Amadeus Mozart(Tom Hulce) andAntonio Salieri(F. Murray Abraham). The movie was directed byMiloš Forman, and released to incredible acclaim in 1984.Amadeuswon eight Academy Awards, and concluded its global run with $90 million, against a reported budget of $18 million.
A Complete Unknown, on the other hand, was produced ona budget that has been reported to be as high as $70 million. The movie has already overtaken music biopics such asNotorious($44 million), andJudy($46 million). The film opened to positive reviews, and currently sits at a 78% approval rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. The platform’s audience score is a far more positive 96%.In his review, Collider’sRoss Bonaimewrote that the movie “can’t fight off the formulaic nature of the genre, yet still finds a bold and captivating way to tell Dylan’s story.”
Chalamet Is on a Hot-Streak at the Box Office
A Complete Unknownreceived three nominations at the recent Golden Globes, and four at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Mangold was also nominated by the Directors Guild of America; this is a much-needed return to form for him, after the disastrousIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, a movie that barely recovered its reported budget of nearly $400 million. Mangold previously directed theJohnny CashbiopicWalk the Line, which made $119 million domestically. Cash is played byBoyd HolbrookinA Complete Unknown, which also featuresElle Fanning,Monica Barbaro, andEdward Norton.
A Complete Unknownis playing in theaters now. Stay tuned to Collider for more box office updates.
A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknown: Set in the vibrant New York music scene of the early 1960s, the film follows the journey of 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan. It captures his rapid ascent from a budding folk singer to a prominent figure in concert halls and on the charts, highlighting his impact on the music world.
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