A Complete Unknownhas landed on a major box office chart by the end of its first full week in theaters. The movie, which was directed byWalk the Line’s James Mangold, follows iconic musician Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) during the early years of his career in the 1960s. TheComplete Unknownreleasekicked off on Christmas Day, 2024, with an $11.6 million debut seeing it land at No. 6 on the chart as the second-best new release of the weekend behind Robert Eggers' horror remakeNosferatu.
PerThe Numbers,A Complete Unknownhas reached a cumulative domestic box office total of $25.68 million as of Monday, December 30. This means thatit has taken the movie less than a week to land on the chart of the Top 100 highest-grossing movies based on a factual book or articleat the domestic box office. With its total as of Monday, it has landed at No. 98 on the chart, surpassing the domestic grosses of Ridley Scott’sAll the Money in the World($25.1 million) and the Mark Wahlberg-led inspirational dog movieArthur the King($25 million).
What This Means For A Complete Unknown
The Bob Dylan Biopic Could Keep Climbing
TheComplete Unknowntrue storyis likely what is helping drive audience interest in the movie, but it is already excelling even among similar movies. As it approaches its second weekend in theaters, it is entirely possible thatthe movie willhit a total of more than $30 million by Sunday, even if it drops 60% in its second weekend. This would see it climb to No. 89 on the chart by the end of just 10 days in theaters. Below, see the movies that are currently above it on the chart:
#97
Yours, Mine and Ours(1968)
$25.9 million
#96
$26 million
#95
$27.3 million
#94
$27.9 million
#93
$28.8 million
#92
$28.9 million
#91
$29.4 million
#90
$20.5 million
#89
$30.1 million
#88
Deliver Us from Evil(2014)
$30.6 million
However, it remains to be seen how high the movie can climb up the chart. The No. 1 title is Clint Eastwood’sAmerican Sniper, which grossed $350.1 million after debuting with a $58.8 million weekend in 2014. Although holiday season releases tend to have slow-and-steady box office growth, it seems unlikely that the Bob Dylan biopic has the same kind of blockbuster appeal. However, if it has the same level of growth asWalk the Line, which opened with $22.3 million,it could eventually hit $62.2 million overall, making it No. 45 on the chart, above 2016’sMiracles from Heaven.
Our Take On A Complete Unknown’s Chart Success
It Could Become A Long-Term Smash
One thing that will likely help the movie soar is the raft of glowingA Complete Unknownreviews, which have earned ita Certified Fresh 78% Rotten Tomatoes score with a Verified Hot 96% audience score, compared toWalk the Line’s 83% from critics and 90% from audiences. Strong word of mouth, combined with the fact that very few tentpole releases are due in theaters over the coming weeks, could help the movie exceed expectations as it continues its domestic run.
A Complete Unknown
Cast
A Complete Unknown is a biographical movie that follows a young Bob Dylan as he integrates with New York and catches the eye of the folk singers in the area, eventually propelling him into stardom.
