Secrets & Lies (1996)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $13,417,292 | Details |
| International Box Office | $2,673,582 | |
| Worldwide Box Office | $16,090,874 | |
| Domestic Physical Disc Sales | ||
| Blu-ray Sales (estimated) | $24,137 | |
| Total | $24,137 | |
| Further financial details... | ||
Synopsis
After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black eye doctor, seeks out her birth mother. She’s shocked when her research leads her to a lower-class white woman, Cynthia. At first Cynthia denies the claim, but she eventually admits to birthing Hortense as a teenager, and the two begin to bond. However, when Cynthia invites Hortense to a family barbecue, Cynthia’s already tense relationship with her family becomes even more complicated.
Metrics
| Legs: | 21.98 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 83.4% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $4,500,000 (worldwide box office is 3.6 times production budget) |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $33,652,000 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | September 28th, 1996 (Wide) by October Films |
| International Releases: | May 24th, 1996 (Wide), released as Secrets And Lies (United Kingdom) |
| Video Release: | March 30th, 2021 by Criterion |
| MPA Rating: | R for language |
| Running Time: | 142 minutes |
| Award nomination: | 1997 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Plot point: | Adopted Family Seeking Reunion, Dysfunctional Family, Interracial Child |
| Subgenre: | Comedy Drama |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Channel Four Films, Thin Man Films |
| Production Countries: | United Kingdom |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 1996 | 32 | $189,050 | 17 | $11,121 | $294,677 | 2 | |
| Oct 11, 1996 | 18 | $467,221 | +147% | 57 | $8,197 | $844,152 | 3 |
| Oct 18, 1996 | 16 | $413,940 | -11% | 77 | $5,376 | $1,342,409 | 4 |
| Oct 25, 1996 | 19 | $414,065 | n/c | 105 | $3,943 | $1,891,239 | 5 |
| Nov 1, 1996 | 22 | $472,260 | +14% | 112 | $4,217 | $2,494,589 | 6 |
| Nov 8, 1996 | 19 | $507,428 | +7% | 125 | $4,059 | $1,115,587 | 7 |
| Nov 15, 1996 | 20 | $402,314 | -21% | 145 | $2,775 | $3,622,818 | 8 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | 17 | $303,304 | -25% | 120 | $2,528 | $4,105,444 | 9 |
| Nov 29, 1996 | 18 | $368,853 | +22% | 114 | $3,236 | $4,474,297 | 10 |
| Dec 6, 1996 | 18 | $175,763 | -52% | 111 | $1,583 | $4,755,457 | 11 |
| Dec 13, 1996 | 21 | $105,047 | -40% | 75 | $1,401 | $4,928,155 | 12 |
| Dec 20, 1996 | 29 | $114,381 | +9% | 62 | $1,845 | $5,100,235 | 13 |
| Dec 27, 1996 | 32 | $145,063 | +27% | 69 | $2,102 | $5,343,011 | 14 |
| Jan 3, 1997 | 26 | $221,934 | +53% | 72 | $3,082 | $6,237,238 | 15 |
| Jan 10, 1997 | 29 | $183,402 | -17% | 94 | $1,951 | $6,511,605 | 16 |
| Jan 17, 1997 | 34 | $191,241 | +4% | 75 | $2,550 | $6,776,562 | 17 |
| Jan 24, 1997 | 33 | $170,954 | -11% | 88 | $1,943 | $7,025,943 | 18 |
| Jan 31, 1997 | 36 | $161,313 | -6% | 82 | $1,967 | $7,268,929 | 19 |
| Feb 7, 1997 | 33 | $158,583 | -2% | 93 | $1,705 | $7,500,294 | 20 |
| Feb 14, 1997 | 24 | $550,999 | +247% | 162 | $3,401 | $8,147,277 | 21 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | 20 | $610,507 | +11% | 272 | $2,245 | $8,930,000 | 22 |
| Feb 28, 1997 | 20 | $539,483 | -12% | 296 | $1,823 | $9,666,656 | 23 |
| Mar 7, 1997 | 22 | $487,507 | -10% | 229 | $2,129 | $10,359,338 | 24 |
| Mar 14, 1997 | 22 | $418,600 | -14% | 212 | $1,975 | $9,999,121 | 25 |
| Mar 21, 1997 | 23 | $568,984 | +36% | 240 | $2,371 | $11,768,875 | 26 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | 23 | $369,474 | -35% | 177 | $2,087 | $12,323,315 | 27 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 28 | $222,676 | -40% | 155 | $1,437 | $12,678,732 | 28 |
| Apr 11, 1997 | 33 | $163,464 | -27% | 136 | $1,202 | $12,919,501 | 29 |
| Apr 18, 1997 | 36 | $132,351 | -19% | 125 | $1,059 | $13,108,119 | 30 |
| Apr 25, 1997 | 42 | $85,167 | -36% | 87 | $979 | $13,245,764 | 31 |
| May 2, 1997 | 49 | $50,238 | -41% | 54 | $930 | $13,330,136 | 32 |
| May 9, 1997 | 50 | $37,809 | -25% | 44 | $859 | $13,384,535 | 33 |
| May 16, 1997 | 60 | $20,501 | -46% | 30 | $683 | $13,417,292 | 34 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 1996 | 29 | $271,304 | 17 | $15,959 | $376,931 | 2 | |
| Oct 11, 1996 | 18 | $551,538 | +103% | 57 | $9,676 | $928,469 | 3 |
| Oct 18, 1996 | 16 | $548,705 | -1% | 77 | $7,126 | $1,477,174 | 4 |
| Oct 25, 1996 | 18 | $545,155 | -1% | 105 | $5,192 | $2,022,329 | 5 |
| Nov 8, 1996 | 8 | $2,612,345 | 125 | $20,899 | $3,220,504 | 7 | |
| Nov 15, 1996 | 18 | $581,636 | -78% | 145 | $4,011 | $3,802,140 | 8 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | 19 | $303,304 | -48% | 120 | $2,528 | $4,105,444 | 9 |
| Nov 29, 1996 | 16 | $474,250 | +56% | 114 | $4,160 | $4,579,694 | 10 |
| Dec 6, 1996 | 17 | $243,414 | -49% | 111 | $2,193 | $4,823,108 | 11 |
| Dec 13, 1996 | 20 | $162,746 | -33% | 75 | $2,170 | $4,985,854 | 12 |
| Dec 20, 1996 | 29 | $212,094 | +30% | 62 | $3,421 | $5,197,948 | 13 |
| Dec 27, 1996 | 22 | $817,356 | +285% | 69 | $11,846 | $6,015,304 | 14 |
| Jan 3, 1997 | 27 | $312,899 | -62% | 72 | $4,346 | $6,328,203 | 15 |
| Jan 10, 1997 | 29 | $257,118 | -18% | 94 | $2,735 | $6,585,321 | 16 |
| Jan 17, 1997 | 34 | $269,668 | +5% | 75 | $3,596 | $6,854,989 | 17 |
| Jan 24, 1997 | 31 | $252,627 | -6% | 88 | $2,871 | $7,107,616 | 18 |
| Jan 31, 1997 | 33 | $234,095 | -7% | 82 | $2,855 | $7,341,711 | 19 |
| Feb 7, 1997 | 30 | $254,567 | +9% | 93 | $2,737 | $7,596,278 | 20 |
| Feb 14, 1997 | 22 | $723,215 | +184% | 162 | $4,464 | $8,319,493 | 21 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | 18 | $807,680 | +12% | 272 | $2,969 | $9,127,173 | 22 |
| Feb 28, 1997 | 20 | $744,658 | -8% | 296 | $2,516 | $9,871,831 | 23 |
| Mar 14, 1997 | 18 | $1,619,370 | 212 | $7,639 | $11,199,891 | 25 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | 23 | $753,950 | -53% | 240 | $3,141 | $11,953,841 | 26 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | 23 | $502,215 | -33% | 177 | $2,837 | $12,456,056 | 27 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 28 | $299,981 | -40% | 155 | $1,935 | $12,756,037 | 28 |
| Apr 11, 1997 | 34 | $219,731 | -27% | 136 | $1,616 | $12,975,768 | 29 |
| Apr 18, 1997 | 35 | $184,829 | -16% | 125 | $1,479 | $13,160,597 | 30 |
| Apr 25, 1997 | 41 | $119,301 | -35% | 87 | $1,371 | $13,279,898 | 31 |
| May 2, 1997 | 47 | $66,828 | -44% | 54 | $1,238 | $13,346,726 | 32 |
| May 9, 1997 | 51 | $50,065 | -25% | 44 | $1,138 | $13,396,791 | 33 |
Synopsis
After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black eye doctor, seeks out her birth mother. She’s shocked when her research leads her to a lower-class white woman, Cynthia. At first Cynthia denies the claim, but she eventually admits to birthing Hortense as a teenager, and the two begin to bond. However, when Cynthia invites Hortense to a family barbecue, Cynthia’s already tense relationship with her family becomes even more complicated.
Metrics
| Legs: | 21.98 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 83.4% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $4,500,000 (worldwide box office is 3.6 times production budget) |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $33,652,000 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | September 28th, 1996 (Wide) by October Films |
| International Releases: | May 24th, 1996 (Wide), released as Secrets And Lies (United Kingdom) |
| Video Release: | March 30th, 2021 by Criterion |
| MPA Rating: | R for language |
| Running Time: | 142 minutes |
| Award nomination: | 1997 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Plot point: | Adopted Family Seeking Reunion, Dysfunctional Family, Interracial Child |
| Subgenre: | Comedy Drama |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Channel Four Films, Thin Man Films |
| Production Countries: | United Kingdom |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 1996 | 32 | $189,050 | 17 | $11,121 | $294,677 | 2 | |
| Oct 11, 1996 | 18 | $467,221 | +147% | 57 | $8,197 | $844,152 | 3 |
| Oct 18, 1996 | 16 | $413,940 | -11% | 77 | $5,376 | $1,342,409 | 4 |
| Oct 25, 1996 | 19 | $414,065 | n/c | 105 | $3,943 | $1,891,239 | 5 |
| Nov 1, 1996 | 22 | $472,260 | +14% | 112 | $4,217 | $2,494,589 | 6 |
| Nov 8, 1996 | 19 | $507,428 | +7% | 125 | $4,059 | $1,115,587 | 7 |
| Nov 15, 1996 | 20 | $402,314 | -21% | 145 | $2,775 | $3,622,818 | 8 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | 17 | $303,304 | -25% | 120 | $2,528 | $4,105,444 | 9 |
| Nov 29, 1996 | 18 | $368,853 | +22% | 114 | $3,236 | $4,474,297 | 10 |
| Dec 6, 1996 | 18 | $175,763 | -52% | 111 | $1,583 | $4,755,457 | 11 |
| Dec 13, 1996 | 21 | $105,047 | -40% | 75 | $1,401 | $4,928,155 | 12 |
| Dec 20, 1996 | 29 | $114,381 | +9% | 62 | $1,845 | $5,100,235 | 13 |
| Dec 27, 1996 | 32 | $145,063 | +27% | 69 | $2,102 | $5,343,011 | 14 |
| Jan 3, 1997 | 26 | $221,934 | +53% | 72 | $3,082 | $6,237,238 | 15 |
| Jan 10, 1997 | 29 | $183,402 | -17% | 94 | $1,951 | $6,511,605 | 16 |
| Jan 17, 1997 | 34 | $191,241 | +4% | 75 | $2,550 | $6,776,562 | 17 |
| Jan 24, 1997 | 33 | $170,954 | -11% | 88 | $1,943 | $7,025,943 | 18 |
| Jan 31, 1997 | 36 | $161,313 | -6% | 82 | $1,967 | $7,268,929 | 19 |
| Feb 7, 1997 | 33 | $158,583 | -2% | 93 | $1,705 | $7,500,294 | 20 |
| Feb 14, 1997 | 24 | $550,999 | +247% | 162 | $3,401 | $8,147,277 | 21 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | 20 | $610,507 | +11% | 272 | $2,245 | $8,930,000 | 22 |
| Feb 28, 1997 | 20 | $539,483 | -12% | 296 | $1,823 | $9,666,656 | 23 |
| Mar 7, 1997 | 22 | $487,507 | -10% | 229 | $2,129 | $10,359,338 | 24 |
| Mar 14, 1997 | 22 | $418,600 | -14% | 212 | $1,975 | $9,999,121 | 25 |
| Mar 21, 1997 | 23 | $568,984 | +36% | 240 | $2,371 | $11,768,875 | 26 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | 23 | $369,474 | -35% | 177 | $2,087 | $12,323,315 | 27 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 28 | $222,676 | -40% | 155 | $1,437 | $12,678,732 | 28 |
| Apr 11, 1997 | 33 | $163,464 | -27% | 136 | $1,202 | $12,919,501 | 29 |
| Apr 18, 1997 | 36 | $132,351 | -19% | 125 | $1,059 | $13,108,119 | 30 |
| Apr 25, 1997 | 42 | $85,167 | -36% | 87 | $979 | $13,245,764 | 31 |
| May 2, 1997 | 49 | $50,238 | -41% | 54 | $930 | $13,330,136 | 32 |
| May 9, 1997 | 50 | $37,809 | -25% | 44 | $859 | $13,384,535 | 33 |
| May 16, 1997 | 60 | $20,501 | -46% | 30 | $683 | $13,417,292 | 34 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 1996 | 29 | $271,304 | 17 | $15,959 | $376,931 | 2 | |
| Oct 11, 1996 | 18 | $551,538 | +103% | 57 | $9,676 | $928,469 | 3 |
| Oct 18, 1996 | 16 | $548,705 | -1% | 77 | $7,126 | $1,477,174 | 4 |
| Oct 25, 1996 | 18 | $545,155 | -1% | 105 | $5,192 | $2,022,329 | 5 |
| Nov 8, 1996 | 8 | $2,612,345 | 125 | $20,899 | $3,220,504 | 7 | |
| Nov 15, 1996 | 18 | $581,636 | -78% | 145 | $4,011 | $3,802,140 | 8 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | 19 | $303,304 | -48% | 120 | $2,528 | $4,105,444 | 9 |
| Nov 29, 1996 | 16 | $474,250 | +56% | 114 | $4,160 | $4,579,694 | 10 |
| Dec 6, 1996 | 17 | $243,414 | -49% | 111 | $2,193 | $4,823,108 | 11 |
| Dec 13, 1996 | 20 | $162,746 | -33% | 75 | $2,170 | $4,985,854 | 12 |
| Dec 20, 1996 | 29 | $212,094 | +30% | 62 | $3,421 | $5,197,948 | 13 |
| Dec 27, 1996 | 22 | $817,356 | +285% | 69 | $11,846 | $6,015,304 | 14 |
| Jan 3, 1997 | 27 | $312,899 | -62% | 72 | $4,346 | $6,328,203 | 15 |
| Jan 10, 1997 | 29 | $257,118 | -18% | 94 | $2,735 | $6,585,321 | 16 |
| Jan 17, 1997 | 34 | $269,668 | +5% | 75 | $3,596 | $6,854,989 | 17 |
| Jan 24, 1997 | 31 | $252,627 | -6% | 88 | $2,871 | $7,107,616 | 18 |
| Jan 31, 1997 | 33 | $234,095 | -7% | 82 | $2,855 | $7,341,711 | 19 |
| Feb 7, 1997 | 30 | $254,567 | +9% | 93 | $2,737 | $7,596,278 | 20 |
| Feb 14, 1997 | 22 | $723,215 | +184% | 162 | $4,464 | $8,319,493 | 21 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | 18 | $807,680 | +12% | 272 | $2,969 | $9,127,173 | 22 |
| Feb 28, 1997 | 20 | $744,658 | -8% | 296 | $2,516 | $9,871,831 | 23 |
| Mar 14, 1997 | 18 | $1,619,370 | 212 | $7,639 | $11,199,891 | 25 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | 23 | $753,950 | -53% | 240 | $3,141 | $11,953,841 | 26 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | 23 | $502,215 | -33% | 177 | $2,837 | $12,456,056 | 27 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 28 | $299,981 | -40% | 155 | $1,935 | $12,756,037 | 28 |
| Apr 11, 1997 | 34 | $219,731 | -27% | 136 | $1,616 | $12,975,768 | 29 |
| Apr 18, 1997 | 35 | $184,829 | -16% | 125 | $1,479 | $13,160,597 | 30 |
| Apr 25, 1997 | 41 | $119,301 | -35% | 87 | $1,371 | $13,279,898 | 31 |
| May 2, 1997 | 47 | $66,828 | -44% | 54 | $1,238 | $13,346,726 | 32 |
| May 9, 1997 | 51 | $50,065 | -25% | 44 | $1,138 | $13,396,791 | 33 |