4 months ago
Exhibitors successful nan U.S. for illustration to outcry astir nan encroachment of streaming connected theatrical attendance, but they’ve ne'er been to Italy wherever moviegoing has much aliases little been successful a funk station Covid sans immoderate multi-national circuits successful nan country. Which is what makes nan latest occurrence of nan Checco Zalone starring, and co-written drama Buen Camino all nan much amazing; nan pic headed to go nan highest grossing section connection movie successful Italy overtaking nan drama star’s 2016 drama Quo Vado? (65.3M Euros/$72.6M).
The Medusa theatrical merchandise Buen Camino opened complete nan four-day Christmas vacation (Dec. 25-28) to a grounds $31.6M, nan biggest opening ever for an Italian film. Not only did that magnitude bonk nan James Cameron’s Na’vi people complete nan head, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which posted a $6.3M 2nd play then, but it besides made Buen Camino the highest grossing movie successful Italy for almanac twelvemonth 2025 besting Disney’s Lilo & Stitch‘s $25.2M.
This past weekend, Comscore reports that Buen Camino posted a 2nd play of $18.3M, sending its moving cume successful nan onshore of Vittoria De Sica and Federico Fellini to $66.7M (57M Euros). At that cume, Buen Camino is presently nan 2nd highest grossing section connection movie successful Italy down Quo Vado? and nan 3rd highest grossing wide successful a marketplace that’s led by 2009’s Avatar ($68.6M unadjusted for inflation/currency swings). Against each world Hollywood releases for nan first play of 2026, Buen Camino ranked 2nd successful a framework led by Disney/20th Century Studios’ Avatar: Fire and Ash which did $170M WW successful 51 worldly territories. In Italy alone, Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s moving full stands astatine $24.3M.
Buen Camino follows a begetter who leaves his comfortableness area to hunt for his missing girl connected nan Camino de Santiago. During his pilgrimage, amid blisters and unexpected encounters, he discovers overmuch much than specified clues: he rediscovers himself.
The movie was co-written and directed by Gennaro Nunziante who besides helmed nan different Italian Zalone hits Quo Vado?, Solo A Catinelle and What A Beautiful Day.
Bari-born Zalone owns 5 of nan biggest Italian section blockbusters including Quo Vado? ($72.6M), Buen Camino), 2013’s Solo A Catinelle ($69.9M), 2020’s Tolo Tolo ($52.2M, which Zalone directed and co-wrote pinch Paolo Virzi) and 2011’s What A Beautiful Day ($59.4M)
What’s nan concealed to Buen Camino‘s success? Per sources connected nan ground, absence makes nan bosom turn fonder for nan multi-hyphenate drama prima and singer. Zalone makes movies astir each 5 years, hence ratcheting up anticipation among fans. His comedies are known to beryllium elemental pinch immoderate governmental incorrectness and a bully tone. Couple this pinch a year-end merchandise day erstwhile vacation moviegoing is progressive and you person an perfect look for success.
The Italian container agency for each films for Jan. 1-Dec. 28, 2025 per Comescore grossed $517.7M, -1% from nan aforesaid scope a twelvemonth ago. The 4th highest grossing movie for 2025 successful Italy, and nan second-highest section connection movie for nan twelvemonth was Paolo Genovese’s Madly with $21.9M from February.
