Christian terrorism wasn't enough hype to beat Disney at Russia's box office

12:30 pm, October 30, 2017

Despite all the controversy surrounding its release, the historical drama film “Matilda” failed to top the box office on its opening weekend, coming in second to the Disney-produced fantasy motion picture “The Last Warrior” (Poslednii Bogatyr).

Alexey Uchitel’s movie about future Tsar Nicholas II and ballerina Matilda Kschessinska has earned an estimated 201.4 million rubles ($3.5 million) since premiering. The Disney film, meanwhile, brought in 416.8 million rubles ($7.2 million).

In the months leading up to the release of “Matilda,” conservative Russian Orthodox Christian groups protested the film (sometimes with violent threats), arguing that it constitutes sacrilege against the memory of Nicholas II, whom the Moscow Patriarchate canonized in August 2000.

For more on opposition to ‘Matilda’

‘The Lord has given me a mission’ The leader of a Russian Orthodox Christian group explains how opposition to a film is tied to nationwide bomb threats