Arrival has already managed to earn its share of respect from critics. The science fiction drama from director Denis Villenueve racked up plenty of great reviews and various accolades in the few weeks since opening in theaters. Star Amy Adams is certainly getting her share of praise as well for her portrayal of a linguistics professor brought in by the government to help decipher a reason for why aliens have come to Earth. The question then comes down to whether or not an audience would hold it in the same regard.

While based on a short story by Ted Chiang, Arrival is essentially an original film released to a mainstream audience during a time when franchise films like Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them were already destined to rule the box office. Fortunately, Arrival did not find itself lost on another planet, as Paramount Pictures was happy to share news that this moderately-budgeted film has become a worldwide success.

Arrival has passed $100 million worldwide, with weeks left to still determine its final theatrical gross. Paramount has released a full report on its success so far, including the domestic and international box office stats, along with its regard as an awards contender. The press release goes as follows:

HOLLYWOOD, CA (December 2, 2016) - Paramount Picture’s ARRIVAL from director Denis Villeneuve and starring Academy Award-nominees Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, has reached $100 million at the worldwide box office.  The film has grossed $65.777M in the US and Canada, and $35.123M internationally, thru Thursday.  Paramount Pictures handled distribution in the US and Canada, with FilmNation Entertainment as the international sales agent for all territories.

The acclaimed film received 10 nominations on Thursday from the Critics Choice Awards, including for Best Picture, Director, Actress and Adapted Screenplay and was recently named to the National Board of Review’s Top Films of 2016. The film’s star Amy Adams recently received the National Board of Review’s Best Actress award and was honored by the 2016 Gotham Independent Film Awards with a career achievement honor.

In its third week of release, ARRIVAL has earned $65.777M to date at more than 2,400 locations in the US and Canada. The Atlantic called it, "The best film of the year, ambitious in conception and extraordinary in execution."

Now entering the fourth week of release in the UK via distributor eOne, ARRIVAL has grossed £7.73M or $9.6M as of Thursday. The film has surpassed the lifetime cume of PRISONERS (£7.33M) and SICARIO (£4.96M), and is now the highest grossing title for director Denis Villeneuve in the UK.

Now entering the third week of release in Spain,where the film is being released by Sony Pictures Releasing International, ARRIVAL has grossed EUR 2.37M or $2.54M as of Thursday. The film has already surpassed the lifetime cume of PRISONERS (EUR 2.08M) and SICARIO (EUR 1.79M), and is now the highest grossing title for Villeneuve in Spain.

ARRIVAL is entering its fourth week in Australia, where the film is being released by Roadshow grossing AUD 5.77M or $4.44M as of Thursday. The film has surpassed the lifetime cume of SICARIO (AUD 5.36M) and PRISONERS (AUD 3.84M), and is now the highest grossing title for Villeneuve in Australia.

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team - led by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) - is brought together to investigate.  As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers – and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.

ARRIVAL stars Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Mark O’Brien. . From Paramount Pictures in association with FilmNation Entertainment, Lava Bear Films and 21 Laps Entertainment Production.  Produced by Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Aaron Ryder and David Linde.  Based on the story, “Story of Your Life” written by Ted Chiang, with screenplay by Eric Heisserer. Directed by Denis Villeneuve.

It may seem like a lot for a studio to give praise to a film for making $100 million in this day and age, but that is pretty significant for Arrival. While it presents an otherwordly scenario, the film only has a budget of around $50 million (not including marketing). Additionally, Arrival is a drama with little-to-no-action and a story and themes that allow the audience to continue thinking about it long after it has ended. Despite a visually intriguing presence, that is not always an easy sell, with broader competition right around the corner. It may not be blowing up at the box office in the same way a highly anticipated comic book movie can, but it has made significant earnings that go well with its recent nominations from various critical establishments.

Obviously Paramount wants to keep news alive in regards to one of the few awards contenders they have with mainstream appeal. Not a bad way to try and sell it, especially if people do continue to seek out this intelligent and thoughtful science fiction film. The greater the reception, the more of a chance there is to see other original films like it.

Arrival is currently playing in theaters.

Source: Paramount Pictures