A24’s $100 Million Club: The Indie Films That Defied the Odds

It’s not every day that a small studio like A24 finds itself rubbing shoulders with the industry’s financial heavyweights. Known for its offbeat, often daring productions, A24 has built a reputation for championing films that don’t exactly scream mainstream. Yet, every so often, one of their projects quietly slips into the $100 million box office club—no mean feat for films that typically operate on shoestring budgets and a healthy disregard for formulaic spectacle.

War, Journalism, and the Unravelling of America

Take Civil War, for instance. The film trails a band of journalists as they navigate a fractured United States, intent on reaching the President before rebel factions topple him. The journey is anything but straightforward; the group witnesses the country’s descent into chaos, with violence and unsettling imagery at every turn. The film never spells out the origins of the conflict, instead focusing on the human cost and the role of the press in times of upheaval. Kirsten Dunst leads the cast, and the film’s unflinching look at the breakdown of society struck a chord, pulling in $127 million worldwide. Not bad for a story that refuses to offer easy answers or tidy resolutions.

Modern Love and Material Pursuits

Next up is Materialists, a sharp look at contemporary romance in New York. Celine Song’s film centres on a tangled love triangle involving Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. The narrative pokes at the ways money and social status have crept into the business of love, asking whether genuine connection can survive in a world obsessed with appearances and wealth. Released in 2025, the film managed to draw $107 million at the box office, a testament to its ability to tap into the anxieties of modern relationships. If this one piqued your interest, Song’s earlier work, Past Lives, is also worth a look.

Ambition, Table Tennis, and a Dash of Swagger

Then there’s Marty Supreme, which has quietly amassed $102.3 million globally, with a hefty chunk coming from US audiences. Timothée Chalamet’s energetic marketing campaign certainly didn’t hurt, but it’s his performance as the cocky, quick-witted Marty Reisman—loosely based on the real-life table tennis champion—that’s turned heads. The film’s blend of ambition, bravado, and a touch of vulnerability has earned Chalamet two major awards so far, and he’s now a serious contender for Best Actor at the Oscars. Not too shabby for a film about ping pong.

Multiverses, Sausage Fingers, and Family Drama

At the top of the heap sits Everything Everywhere All at Once. When it landed in 2022, few could have predicted the impact it would have. Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan star as a couple whose lives are upended when Yeoh’s character discovers the multiverse. She must harness the skills of her alternate selves to confront a threat that could unravel reality itself—all while juggling a failing business and family tensions. The film’s inventive storytelling and emotional core propelled it to $142 million worldwide, making it A24’s highest-grossing title to date.

Here’s a quick snapshot of these standout features:

Title | Director | Production | Worldwide Box Office | Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb Rating

Civil War (2024) | Alex Garland | A24, DNA Films | $127m | 81% | 7/10

Materialists (2025) | Celine Song | A24, Sony Pictures, Stage 6 Films | $107m | 77% | 6.3/10

Marty Supreme (2025) | Josh Safdie | Central Pictures | $102.3m | 93% | 8.2/10

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) | Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert | A24, Gozie AGBO, Ley Line Entertainment, Year of the Rat, IAC Films | $142m | 93% | 7.7/10

Audiences, it seems, are still eager for films that take risks and refuse to play by the rules. If you fancy catching up, all of these are available on HBO Max, with Marty Supreme currently showing in cinemas across the US.