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CultureQuiet 13d · day 19

Olivia Colman's 'Wicker' becomes surprise box office hit

The folk-horror romance debuts at No. 5 with $5.75 million, outperforming expectations against major competition.

newest coverage 12d agosummary written 13d ago15 pieces Google NewsNewswires

What to know

  • Wicker, a folk-horror romance adapted from a 2006 short story, opened in limited release and claimed the No. 5 box office spot with $5.75 million—outperforming expectations.
  • The film stars Olivia Colman as a bullied medieval fisherwoman and Alexander Skarsgård as her wicker husband, a sensitive partner created by a basketmaker played by Peter Dinklage.
  • Critics praised the film's unusual tonal balancing act between comedy, horror, and genuine emotion, with comparisons drawn to Shirley Jackson's storytelling sensibility.
  • The film's success comes amid a competitive box office weekend where Street Fighter dropped sharply in its second week and DC's Clayface took the top spot.

“Wicker finished fifth in the box office ranks last weekend with a total haul of $5.75 million. This bonkers, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt tale stars Academy Award winner Olivia Colman.”

Jake Hodges, Screen Rant writer · Screen Rant ↗ · Oct 25

Olivia ColmanOlivia Colman Lead actorAlexander Skarsgård Lead actorAlex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson Director and co-writerPeter Dinklage Supporting actor

Olivia Colman's 'Wicker' becomes surprise box office hit
Guardian Culture

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 3 pieces in 5h at Oct 30, 2 AM; 15 pieces over 19 days (15 articles) Oct 25, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 25, 7 AM — quietOct 25, 12 PM — quietOct 25, 5 PM — quietOct 25, 10 PM — quietOct 26, 3 AM — quietOct 26, 8 AM — quietOct 26, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 26, 6 PM — quietOct 26, 11 PM — quietOct 27, 4 AM — quietOct 27, 9 AM — quietOct 27, 2 PM — quietOct 27, 7 PM — quietOct 28, 12 AM — quietOct 28, 5 AM — quietOct 28, 10 AM — quietOct 28, 3 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 1 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Oct 29, 6 AM — quietOct 29, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 9 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Oct 30, 2 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Oct 30, 7 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 2, Google News 1Oct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 5 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 3 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 31, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 11 PM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 8 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 4 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietNov 7, 4 AM — quietNov 7, 9 AM — quietNov 7, 2 PM — quietNov 7, 7 PM — quietNov 8, 12 AM — quietNov 8, 5 AM — quietNov 8, 10 AM — quietNov 8, 3 PM — quietNov 8, 8 PM — quietNov 9, 1 AM — quietNov 9, 6 AM — quietNov 9, 11 AM — quietNov 9, 4 PM — quietNov 9, 9 PM — quietNov 10, 2 AM — quietNov 10, 7 AM — quietNov 10, 12 PM — quietNov 10, 5 PM — quietNov 10, 10 PM — quietNov 11, 3 AM — quietNov 11, 8 AM — quietNov 11, 1 PM — quietNov 11, 6 PM — quietNov 11, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quiet 123
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  1. 3

    Colman discusses her attraction to the film's script in Guardian interview

    In an interview with Ryan Gilbey, Olivia Colman expressed enthusiasm about the script, and discussed the character dynamics between her depressed fisherwoman and Skarsgård's wicker husband. She also referenced enjoying Skarsgård's previous project Pillion.

    “I fucking loved Pillion so much!”
    — Olivia Colman
  2. 2

    Guardian critic praises film as intriguing folk-horror romance

    Peter Bradshaw reviewed the film positively, noting its unusual tone occupying a space between macabre horror and sentimentality, comparing it to the spirit of Shirley Jackson. He highlighted Colman's fierce and naturalistic performance and the film's unexpected romantic elements.

    “It's almost funny but not exactly, and almost disturbing but not exactly, occupying a strange and intriguing Venn-diagram overlap between macabre horror and sentimentality.”
    — Peter Bradshaw
    1. 2 outlets Wicker review – Olivia Colman finds the perfect lover in intriguing folk-horror romance

      first by Guardian Culture, 15d ago · also The Guardian

  3. 2 days quiet
  4. 1

    Wicker finishes No. 5 at box office with $5.75 million

    Despite opening in fewer theaters than competitors, Wicker achieved a surprise top-five finish in its opening weekend, becoming the standout success story of the box office race. Clayface took the top spot, while Street Fighter dropped 72% from its opening.

    “a fun and quirky story about love and overcoming loneliness…”
    — Therese Lacson, Collider film critic · source
    1. 1 outlet Olivia Colman’s Thrilling New Fairytale Officially Becomes a Box Office Sleeper Hit

      first by Screen Rant? placeholder, 17d ago

  5. background

    Wicker opens in limited theatrical release — The folk-horror romance starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård debuts in theaters, adapted from Ursula Wills's 2006 short story The Wicker Husband.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 5 outlets ‘I saw the script and went: oooh!’ Olivia Colman and Alexander Skårsgard on their steamy folk-horror movie Wicker

    first by Guardian Media, 13d ago · also Entertainment Weekly, AV Club, Guardian Culture, The Guardian

    2 more headlines

and 6 smaller pieces