Russian director Roman Karimov’s drama Breath dominated the weekend box office in Russia and the CIS, drawing audiences with its stark portrayal of a hospital’s red zone during the peak of the pandemic. The film raked in 21.4 million rubles over the three-day period, according to Kinobusiness.com which tracks weekend results with period-specific data. The momentum highlighted how viewers responded to tense medical narratives set against a crisis backdrop, and helped solidify Breath as a standout release in the region’s evolving cinema landscape.
In a close second slot, Klim Shipenko’s Challenge attracted strong attention, aided by its space-bound production and high-stakes drama. The film follows a thoracic surgeon portrayed by Yulia Peresild who travels to the International Space Station to perform a surgery under extraordinary conditions. Its box office total reached 20.1 million rubles, underscoring a public appetite for ambitious storytelling that blends professional heroism with personal sacrifice in an extreme environment.
Rounding out the top three, the Canadian science fiction feature Back to the Dinosaurs offered a more adventurous escape. The film, which centers on teenagers who discover a time machine in a forest and visit prehistoric worlds, earned 19 million rubles and joined a weekend lineup that showcased genre variety alongside more grounded medical dramas. This title’s performance reflects a growing interest in cross-border cinema where Canadian productions connect with audiences across Russia and neighboring markets, enriching the regional cultural conversation.
Breath notched a robust debut by collecting 30.7 million rubles during its first release weekend, signaling strong word-of-mouth and repeat attendance potential. The story follows a former doctor who makes a risky, secret return to a hospital to support his mother, who is battling coronavirus. The emotional core and urgent stakes resonated with viewers who appreciate personal sacrifice framed within a broader public health crisis, contributing to the film’s compelling weekend trajectory.
The director has spoken about future projects with a clear shift in tone. Following the intense, realism-driven drama of Breath, Karimov has expressed an intent to explore a comedy as his next cinematic venture. The plan, as described, would bring a different rhythm and mood to a filmmaker known for tackling high-stakes medical scenarios, while still keeping a strong focus on character depth and human resilience. This pivot illustrates how contemporary filmmakers often balance weighty subject matter with lighter, more uplifting storytelling to broaden appeal and reach new audiences across North America and beyond.