The film set records at Sundance after Hulu and Neon spent more than $ 17.5 million on distribution rights.
Chris Willard
Records keep coming for Max Barbakow’s romantic comedy “Palm Springs.” A Hulu spokesperson confirms with IndieWire that the movie broke the streaming platform’s weekend opening record by getting more hours viewed during its first three days than any other movie on Hulu during the same period. “Palm Springs” launched on July 10 on Hulu.
The film also generated the most social interest for any original Hulu movie to date during its first weekend, and was the most-discussed Hulu original movie on Twitter during its first three days.
The “Palm Springs” Hulu album is the latest historical moment in the critically acclaimed comedy, starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and sold to Hulu and Neon for just over $ 17.5 million, making it the biggest deal in Park City festival history. “Palm Springs” surpassed the previous $ 17.5 million that Searchlight Pictures paid for Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” at the 2016 festival. Neon opened the film in select theaters the same day it was released in the United States in Hulu.
For Hulu, “Palm Springs” is the latest streaming bonanza after the successful online launch of Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” in April. As IndieWire exclusively reported, “Parasite” became the most-streamed independent or foreign language movie of all the titles available on Hulu in its first week of availability on the streaming platform. Additionally, “Parasite” became the second most viewed movie overall on Hulu among the titles currently available to stream after its first week of release.
“Palm Springs” is one of the most acclaimed comedy releases of 2020 with 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. IndieWire film critic David Ehrlich gave the film an enthusiastic critique of Sundance, calling it a “brilliant reinvention of the ‘Groundhog Day’ formula.” Samberg and Milioti are the wedding guests who are caught in a time loop and forced to relive the same day over and over again. The supporting cast includes Peter Gallagher, Camila Mendes and JK Simmons. The film marks Barbakow’s feature film directorial debut and screenwriter Andy Siara.
Click here to read IndieWire’s interview with Siara about creating the now successful Hulu hit.
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