Documentary 'NAZA' Stuns, Beats 'Avengers' at Italian Box Office!
Documentary 'NAZA' Stuns, Beats 'Avengers' at Italian Box Office!
A hot-button documentary on the Gaza war, 'NAZA,' has defied expectations, topping the Italian box office over 'Avengers: Endgame Encore.' This Venice Film Festival winner is sparking global conversation.
In a surprising cinematic turn, “NAZA,” a documentary focusing on the war in Gaza, has debuted at the top of the Italian box office, significantly outperforming the re-release of Marvel’s blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame Encore.” This achievement follows the film's recent win of a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, signaling a growing appetite for impactful and thought-provoking content.
Over Monday and Tuesday, “NAZA” garnered approximately €1.1 million ($1.2 million) in Italy.
In stark contrast, “Avengers: Endgame Encore,” which is in its second week of Italian screenings, pulled in €356,000 ($404,000) during the same two-day period. This remarkable success led to the film's original three-day theatrical run in Italy being extended due to overwhelming demand and sold-out screenings.
Directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, “NAZA” was shot at night on the rooftops of Tel Aviv and delves into the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The film previously received a massive 24.5-minute standing ovation at Venice and was also warmly received at the New York Film Festival.
The documentary is set for a wide global release, hitting theaters in over 50 territories, with free access planned for global audiences via The Guardian website in late November. Its U.S. rollout is spearheaded by The Guardian and MK2, starting exclusively at the IFC Center in New York City.
“NAZA” builds upon investigative revelations first published by +972, Local Call, and The Guardian between 2023 and 2025.
Directors Abraham and Szor emphasized their motivation for making the film: to use their position as Israeli filmmakers and journalists to examine the systems behind the mass killing of Palestinian civilians.
They pose critical questions about dehumanization and the inner workings of such systems, aiming to break the silence surrounding these complex issues.
