"NAZA" debuted at No. 1 at the Italian box office, grossing roughly €1.1 million ($1.2 million) on Monday and Tuesday in its first theatrical run since premiering at the Venice Film Festival, according to Variety.
The Gaza documentary easily beat "Avengers: Endgame Encore," which took in €356,000 ($404,000) in Italy during the same two-day stretch. The Marvel re-release is in its second week in Italian cinemas.
"NAZA" was shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv and examines the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. It won a special jury prize at Venice before arriving in theaters.
The film's strong opening signals that politically charged nonfiction can draw crowds in Italy, even against a Disney-owned franchise title with a built-in global audience. The margin was not close. "NAZA" more than tripled the Marvel film's two-day gross.
Venice has become a frequent launchpad for documentaries that go on to find commercial success. A festival prize there often generates press coverage and distributor interest that a standard release would not attract on its own.
The documentary's subject matter has proven divisive since its Venice debut, with supporters and critics clashing over its portrayal of the conflict. That controversy likely contributed to the film's visibility in Italy, where it opened without the wide marketing push a studio blockbuster receives.
"Avengers: Endgame Encore" is a rerelease of the 2019 Marvel film, which remains one of the highest-grossing movies ever made. Its Italian performance this week, however, was no match for a documentary playing in its first days.
It is unclear how long "NAZA" will hold its position at the top of the Italian chart. Its second-week performance will show whether the opening was driven by curiosity tied to Venice or by sustained audience interest.
Variety reported the box office figures. The numbers cover Monday and Tuesday only and have not been independently verified by Headings.US.
