"Kneecap," the critically acclaimed film about the Irish language hip hop trio from Belfast, has officially crossed the €1 million mark at Box Offices on the island of Ireland.
Not only is the critically acclaimed feature directed by Rich Peppiatt the top grossing Irish film of the year, it is also the first Irish film to pass the €1 million mark since the release of "The Banshees of Inisherin" in 2022.
"Kneecap" now joins the ranks of other modern Irish classic films such as "Black 47," "The Young Offenders," "Brooklyn," "An Cáilín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl," and "The Guard" to pass this Irish box office milestone.
Speaking about the success of the film, Patrick O'Neill, Wildcard Founder and Managing Director and the film’s Co-Producer, said: “It’s incredible to see 'Kneecap' connect with Irish audiences in such a way.
"We are hearing of sold-out screenings, rounds of applause, standing ovations, and sing-alongs in cinemas all over Ireland.
"Word of mouth is really strong, helping the film to continuously remain in the top five in the Box Office chart in the last three weeks – alongside Hollywood hits 'It Ends With Us' and 'Deadpool and Wolverine.'"
We're thrilled that KNEECAP has crossed the €1million mark at the Box Office across the island of Ireland.
Not only is it the top grossing Irish film of the year, it now joins the ranks of other modern Irish classic films such as The Banshees of Inisherin, Black 47, The Young… pic.twitter.com/CDHRiMDgYh
— Wildcard Distribution (@WildCardDistrib) August 30, 2024
"Kneecap" was released in Irish cinemas on August 8 with the widest-ever opening of an Irish film in cinemas in Ireland, opening in 109 screens across the island.
Audiences flocked to see it, which resulted in it achieving the biggest opening for an Irish film at the Irish Box Office since "The Banshees of Inisherin" and the biggest box office opening for an Irish language feature film ever.
The film, which has received five-star reviews and overwhelmingly positive word of mouth from audiences, is now heading into its fourth week of release and will be showing in over 84 cinemas across Ireland and Northern Ireland this weekend.
June 9, 2024: Móglaí Bap, Dj Provaí, and Mo Chara of Kneecap attend the "Kneecap" premiere during the 2024 Tribeca Festival at Village East Cinema in New York City. (Getty Images)
Written and directed by Rich Peppiatt ("One Rogue Reporter"), "Kneecap" stars the members of the West Belfast rap trio Kneecap (Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí) alongside an ensemble cast including Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender, Simone Kirby, Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds and Adam Best.
Set in West Belfast in 2019, when fate brings Belfast schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of Naoise and Liam Óg, the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other.
Rapping in their native Irish language, the trio create their own genre of Irish punk rap, melding the Irish and English language with electrifying energy. Their writing and performance reimagine what rap can be as a creative and cultural force, rooted in community.
Kneecap ultimately become the unlikely figureheads of a Civil Rights movement to save their mother tongue, upending preconceptions about language and place and spearheading a cultural revival and interest from their legions of young followers.
"Kneecap" was produced by Trevor Birney and Jack Tarling for Fine Point Films and Mother Tongues Films, with Patrick O'Neill at Wildcard acting as Co-Producer. Funding for the film was provided by Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Coimisiún na Meán and TG4, Dias Feld and Kamila Serkebaeva, with backing from Great Point Media.
The film had its world premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in January this year, where it won a NEXT Audience Award, the first Irish language film to win at the festival.
At Sundance, Sony Pictures Classics acquired all rights to the film for North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East. "Kneecap" is now playing at select theaters across the US.
After its world premiere, "Kneecap" went on to play at Sundance London, and was the opening film of Galway Film Fleadh, where it won three prizes including the Audience Award.
The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) recently announced that "Kneecap" was selected to represent Ireland in the Oscar International Feature Film category at the upcoming 97th annual Academy Awards.
You can see where "Kneecap" is playing across the island of Ireland here.
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