Slow start for ‘Funny Story’

It was kind of a sad story for the biggest specialty film at the box office this weekend.

The Zach Galifianakis dramatic comedy “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” which distributor Focus Features launched in a small nationwide run at 742 theaters, took in a disappointing $2.1 million. Focus, Universal Pictures’ specialty label, had hoped to end up with closer to $4 million for the well-reviewed picture.

“Funny Story,” from “Half Nelson” and “Sugar” directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, played in a number of college towns, and its sparsely populated audiences consisted mostly of people under 25.

“We’re disappointed it didn’t do more business because it’s such an enjoyable and entertaining film,” said Focus domestic distribution president Jack Foley.

In limited release, the documentary “Inside Job,” about the financial crisis of 2008, opened to a solid $42,017 at two theaters in New York.

The Robert De Niro-Edward Norton drama “Stone” started with a so-so $73,000 at six theaters in Los Angeles and New York.

British drama “Tamara Drewe” launched with a weak $19,282 at four theaters in the same pair of cities.

— Ben Fritz