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| (C) Project 8 |
According to a reliable source, the Antoinette Jadaone-directed sports drama has now earned ₱47 million at the box office, making it the top grossing local R-16 film in six years. The last film publicly reported to achieve similar success in this rating category was Just A Stranger back in 2019. Since there are no public reports on the box office performance of Uninvited, it has been excluded from the comparison. This marks a significant win for independent cinema, which has long been awaiting its next breakout hit.
Alongside titles like Weapons and Ballerina, 2025 has shaped up to be a promising year for mature-themed local films, with several R-16 titles performing well commercially. Final Destination: Bloodlines, another R-16 release, still holds the title of highest-grossing film of the year in the Philippines so far.
As we've previously discussed, the people behind the film worked tiredlessly to promote the film - from advance screenings to a handful of talkback sessions. Its pricing model, aimed at accessibility, has inspired other local films to follow suit as the film's performance proved that thoughtful strategy and word-of-mouth can still drive success in cinemas.
Currently, Sunshine is in contention to be the Philippines’ official submission for the 2026 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category.
The article has been updated for clarity.
