The new Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle-starring comedy-thriller The Guard has grossed over €2m at the box office in Ireland, making it the biggest Irish film since The Wind that Shakes the Barley.
Commenting, one of the film's producers, Reprisal Films' Chris Clark, said the company was "absolutely delighted" with Irish audiences' response to the film and thanked them for their "incredible support".
"We can only hope the film connects in such an enthusiastic way in America, the UK and beyond," he added.
James Hickey, Chief Executive, Board Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB), said: "For an independently produced film to break out at the Irish box office, overtaking a string of Hollywood hits and Oscar-nominated films (True Grit, Black Swan, The Fighter) that have the weight of a US studio marketing budget behind them, is a remarkable achievement.
"We are delighted to be able to support projects such as The Guard, which is a uniquely Irish film with a broad appeal and has connected with audiences right across Ireland."
The Guard will be released in the US on July 29 and in the UK on August 19.
For details on cinemas screening the film in Ireland, visit: www.theguard.ie/where-to-watch.
