Reading Lolita in Tehran, a drama based on Azar Nafisi’s bestselling memoir, opened in limited theaters in the US on July 10, 2026.
Directed by Eran Riklis, the film stars Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani and Reza Diako in key roles. It is primarily in English with some Persian dialogue.
The story follows a literature professor who starts a secret book club with her female students in revolutionary Iran, reading forbidden Western classics despite the dangers.
This article shares the latest available box office updates, including India gross details where they exist and a day-wise breakdown from the US market. Because the release is limited, the numbers are still early and will be updated as more reports come in.
Reading Lolita in Tehran 2026 Overview
- Title: Reading Lolita in Tehran
- Directed by: Eran Riklis
- Written by: Marjorie David (based on the book by Azar Nafisi)
- Produced by: Marica Stocchi, Gianluca Curti, Moshe Edery, Santo Versace, Eran Riklis
- Actor: Reza Diako
- Actress: Golshifteh Farahani
- Other Cast: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani, Lara Wolf, Bahar Beihaghi and others
- Cinematography: Helene Louvart
- Edited by: Arik Lahav-Leibovich
- Music by: Data not found
- Production Companies: Data not found
- Distributed by: Greenwich Entertainment (United States limited release)
- Release Date: July 10, 2026 (limited)
- Running Time: 107 minutes
- Country: Italy, Israel
- Language: Persian
- Film Industry: International Cinema
- Genre: Biography, Drama
- Censor Rating: NR
Reading Lolita in Tehran Total Box Office Collection
The film has entered limited release in the United States on July 10, so early domestic figures remain modest and are still being compiled. Worldwide collections stand at a modest level, with some international markets contributing small amounts from earlier runs or festival screenings. As an intimate drama with a limited theatrical footprint, its box office performance is typical for this type of specialized release. These are early estimates and will be updated once fuller data from distributors becomes available.
| Schedule | Amount |
|---|---|
| Opening Day | Data updating |
| First Week | Data not found |
| USA Gross | Data updating (limited release) |
| Overseas | Modest (updating) |
| Lifetime WW Collection | Updating, early modest figures |
Reading Lolita in Tehran Day Wise Box Office Collection
| Day | Date | US Collection Gross (Millions) | Fluctuation (%+/-) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | July 10, 2026 | Data updating (limited) | (Opening Day) |
| Day 2 | July 11, 2026 | Data updating | — |
| Day 3 | July 12, 2026 | Data updating | — |
| Total US Gross | – | Data updating (limited) | – |
| Total Worldwide Gross | – | Updating | – |
About The Movie
Reading Lolita in Tehran is set in the years after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. It centers on Azar, a university professor who loses her teaching job because she refuses to wear the veil in the way demanded by the new authorities.
Unable to work openly, she invites seven of her former female students to her home for private literature classes.
The group reads and discusses classic Western novels that have been banned or heavily restricted, including Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Through these secret meetings, the women explore ideas of love, freedom, identity and personal choice that stand in sharp contrast to the strict rules governing their daily lives.
The stories they read give them a language to talk about their own fears, hopes and frustrations under the watchful eyes of morality squads. The film follows both the growing bond among the women and the increasing risks they face as the political climate tightens around them.
Eran Riklis directed the adaptation. Golshifteh Farahani plays Azar, the professor at the center of the group. Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani and Reza Diako appear in important supporting roles that bring different perspectives from the students and the world outside the reading circle.
The movie runs for approximately 105 minutes and is presented mainly in English with sections in Persian. It focuses on the quiet courage found in literature and the personal connections that form when people gather to read and think together.
FAQ for Reading Lolita in Tehran
Q: Is Reading Lolita in Tehran Flop or Hit?
A: No data found.
Q: What is the budget of Reading Lolita in Tehran?
A:No data found.
Disclaimer: The box office figures published on this page are estimates based on publicly available trade reports and industry sources. As more information becomes available, these figures may be updated. While Tenvow strives to provide accurate and timely data, we do not claim that the figures are official or final. They are intended to give a fair indication of a film’s box office performance.