So An American Pickle was never meant to be a major release, but that doesn’t mean a studio could not have hit theaters. It fits more neatly under the indie model that a studio like Fox Searchlight often shepherds. If you remember last year’s Jojo Rabbit, that’s an example of a Fox Searchlight release. Movies like this start with a limited release and, if the buzz is flowing among crowds, could have a lengthy life at the box office. With the wave of its rave reviews on the festival circuit and Oscars nods, Jojo made $90 million worldwide against its $14 million production budget.
