‘Bless Me, Ultima’ opens at No. 23 nationwide

“Bless Me, Ultima” grossed $503,000 in 263 theaters in its first weekend in wide release, according to Box Office Mojo.

“Bless Me, Ultima” debuted worldwide at the Plaza Theatre in El Paso before a staggered release across the Southwest and other cities with large Hispanic populations.

“Bless Me, Ultima,” based on the book by Rudolfo Anaya, tells the story of 6-year-old Antonio Marez and Ultima, who comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. “She is a curandera, one who cures with herbs and magic. Under her wise wing, Tony will test the bonds that time him to his people, and discover himself in the pagan past, in his fathers wisdom, and in his mothers Catholicism. And at each life turn there is Ultima, who delivered Tony into the worldand will nurture the birth of his soul,” according to the film’s website.