A 74-minute compilation of online cat videos, titled "CatVideoFest 2026," has achieved an unexpected box office success, ranking No. 10 during its opening weekend and outperforming new documentary films. The collection of internet cat clips earned more than $500,000 from 255 theaters, averaging $2,229 per screen.
"CatVideoFest 2026" surpassed the opening weekend performance of "Cookie Queens," a documentary about Girl Scouts produced by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which garnered $327,797 from 446 screens for a $735 per screen average. The film also outperformed A24's new Anthony Bourdain biopic, "Tony," which had a limited release on six screens.
Curated Collection Finds Audience Appeal
The "CatVideoFest" is curated by Seattle-based filmmaker Will Braden, who reportedly sifts through over 15,000 online cat videos to select the content. The film's distributor is Oscilloscope Laboratories, a company founded in 2008 by the late Beastie Boy Adam Yauch.
Braden suggested that the communal viewing experience contributes to the film's appeal. "When people see the cat clips communally, ‘They’re like, I’m with my people.’ They can have a whole bunch of laughs, and raise money [some showings have a charity component]. It’s because the experience is unmatched," he explained. He likened the draw of watching curated videos in a theater to attending a live concert, even when recorded music is readily available.
Growing Demand and Limited Options
The film's success has led to theaters adding more showtimes, and international markets are also screening the compilation. Braden noted that the demand is partly due to a perceived scarcity of G-rated movies suitable for all audiences in current Hollywood releases. "It’s like Taylor Swift, Pixar and us," he commented, placing his film alongside major family-friendly entertainment.
This is not the first iteration of "CatVideoFest," as the series has been released annually for several years, but this recent opening marks its most successful debut to date. The film's director has even adapted to the process, with his own cat, Nin, reportedly becoming desensitized to the sounds of meowing during Braden's extensive clip review sessions.