Bent (1997)

Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $405,409Details
International Box Office $45,449Details
Worldwide Box Office $450,858
OpusData ID: 69720100 More info...
Further financial details...

Synopsis

In Germany, the Nazi party’s program of genocide against any and all perceived “enemies” is coming into full swing when the party begins a violent purge of homosexuals in its membership. Max, a bisexual playboy, is attending an orgy thrown by drag queen “Greta” and featuring a number of party members when the festivities are raided by the police; Max and his lover Rudy escape, but they are later arrested and sentenced to a concentration camp. En route to the camp, Max betrays Rudy and arranges to be given a yellow identification star, marking him as a Jew, instead of a pink triangle, which would signify him as gay; while the Jews are destined to be executed, gay prisoners receive even more brutal treatment from the guards. While incarcerated, Max meets Horst, an inmate who proudly wears the pink triangle. Max and Horst fall in love with each other, and Horst’s bravery leads Max to accept his sexual identity.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$109,243 (26.9% of total gross)
Legs:3.71 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:89.9% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:12 opening theaters/13 max. theaters, 5.0 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $997,203

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: November 26th, 1997 (Wide) by MGM
International Releases: March 13th, 1998 (Limited) (United Kingdom)
March 13th, 2026 (Limited) (United Kingdom)
Video Release: January 31st, 2006 by MGM Video
MPA Rating: NC-17 for a strong scene of graphic sexuality.
Running Time: 117 minutes
Plot point: LGBTQ+, War
Social setting: World War II
Source:Based on Play
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Historical Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Channel Four Films, NDF International, Ask Kodansha Co Ltd, Arts Council of England
Production Countries: United Kingdom, Japan
Languages: English

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Nov 28, 1997 39 $109,243   12 $9,104   $145,222 1
Dec 5, 1997 41 $64,518 -41% 13 $4,963   $247,215 2
Dec 12, 1997 50 $28,793 -55% 11 $2,618   $299,346 3
Dec 19, 1997 50 $25,029 -13% 12 $2,086   $336,258 4
Dec 26, 1997 57 $21,960 -12% 12 $1,830   $372,341 5
Jan 23, 1998 71 $6,704   5 $1,341   $405,409 9

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Nov 28, 1997 38 $146,718   12 $12,227   $182,697 2
Dec 5, 1997 41 $87,856 -40% 13 $6,758   $270,553 3
Dec 12, 1997 49 $40,676 -54% 11 $3,698   $311,229 4
Dec 19, 1997 52 $39,152 -4% 12 $3,263   $350,381 5

Top International Territories

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date
Opening
Weekend
Opening
Weekend
Screens/Theaters
Maximum
Screens/Theaters
Theatrical
Engagements
Total
Box Office
Report
Date
United Kingdom 3/13/1998 $0 0 1 0 $45,449 4/6/2026
  
International Total $45,449 4/6/2026

Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.

Leading

Lothaire Bluteau    Horst
Clive Owen    Max

Supporting

Brian Webber    Rudy
Ian McKellen    Uncle Freddie
Mick Jagger    Greta / George
Sadie Frost    Max’s friend
Paul Bettany    Captain
Jude Law    Stormtrooper
Rachel Weisz    Prostitute
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau    Wolf

Production and Technical Credits

Sean Mathias    Director
Martin Sherman    Screenwriter
Martin Sherman    Story by
Michael Solinger    Producer
Dixie Linder    Producer
Sarah Radclyffe    Executive Producer
Hisami Kuroiwa    Executive Producer
Stephen Brimson Lewis    Production Designer
Isabel Lorente    Editor
Philip Glass    Composer
Yorgos Arvanitis    Director of Photography

Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.


Synopsis

In Germany, the Nazi party’s program of genocide against any and all perceived “enemies” is coming into full swing when the party begins a violent purge of homosexuals in its membership. Max, a bisexual playboy, is attending an orgy thrown by drag queen “Greta” and featuring a number of party members when the festivities are raided by the police; Max and his lover Rudy escape, but they are later arrested and sentenced to a concentration camp. En route to the camp, Max betrays Rudy and arranges to be given a yellow identification star, marking him as a Jew, instead of a pink triangle, which would signify him as gay; while the Jews are destined to be executed, gay prisoners receive even more brutal treatment from the guards. While incarcerated, Max meets Horst, an inmate who proudly wears the pink triangle. Max and Horst fall in love with each other, and Horst’s bravery leads Max to accept his sexual identity.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$109,243 (26.9% of total gross)
Legs:3.71 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:89.9% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:12 opening theaters/13 max. theaters, 5.0 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $997,203

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: November 26th, 1997 (Wide) by MGM
International Releases: March 13th, 1998 (Limited) (United Kingdom)
March 13th, 2026 (Limited) (United Kingdom)
Video Release: January 31st, 2006 by MGM Video
MPA Rating: NC-17 for a strong scene of graphic sexuality.
Running Time: 117 minutes
Plot point: LGBTQ+, War
Social setting: World War II
Source:Based on Play
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Historical Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Channel Four Films, NDF International, Ask Kodansha Co Ltd, Arts Council of England
Production Countries: United Kingdom, Japan
Languages: English

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Nov 28, 1997 39 $109,243   12 $9,104   $145,222 1
Dec 5, 1997 41 $64,518 -41% 13 $4,963   $247,215 2
Dec 12, 1997 50 $28,793 -55% 11 $2,618   $299,346 3
Dec 19, 1997 50 $25,029 -13% 12 $2,086   $336,258 4
Dec 26, 1997 57 $21,960 -12% 12 $1,830   $372,341 5
Jan 23, 1998 71 $6,704   5 $1,341   $405,409 9

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Nov 28, 1997 38 $146,718   12 $12,227   $182,697 2
Dec 5, 1997 41 $87,856 -40% 13 $6,758   $270,553 3
Dec 12, 1997 49 $40,676 -54% 11 $3,698   $311,229 4
Dec 19, 1997 52 $39,152 -4% 12 $3,263   $350,381 5

Top International Territories

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date
Opening
Weekend
Opening
Weekend
Screens/Theaters
Maximum
Screens/Theaters
Theatrical
Engagements
Total
Box Office
Report
Date
United Kingdom 3/13/1998 $0 0 1 0 $45,449 4/6/2026
  
International Total $45,449 4/6/2026

Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.

Leading

Lothaire Bluteau    Horst
Clive Owen    Max

Supporting

Brian Webber    Rudy
Ian McKellen    Uncle Freddie
Mick Jagger    Greta / George
Sadie Frost    Max’s friend
Paul Bettany    Captain
Jude Law    Stormtrooper
Rachel Weisz    Prostitute
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau    Wolf

Production and Technical Credits

Sean Mathias    Director
Martin Sherman    Screenwriter
Martin Sherman    Story by
Michael Solinger    Producer
Dixie Linder    Producer
Sarah Radclyffe    Executive Producer
Hisami Kuroiwa    Executive Producer
Stephen Brimson Lewis    Production Designer
Isabel Lorente    Editor
Philip Glass    Composer
Yorgos Arvanitis    Director of Photography

Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.