Apple Lands Sundance Dakota Johnson-lead Dramedy Cha Cha Real Smooth

Apple is making a splash at Sundance again after acquiring the Golden Globes nominated CODA last year with the Cooper Raiff helmed Cha Cha Real Smooth. The world rights deal is worth $15 million. It has been a highly sought-after film after it premiered on January 23rd and became an absolute Sundance favorite, including from our own Joey Magidson (here).

Cha Cha Real Smooth stars Raiff as a young man working as a Bar Mitzvah party host who forms a friendship with a mother (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic daughter (Vanessa Burghardt). The film also stars Leslie Mann, Brad Garrett, Raul Castillo, and Evan Assante. This is Raiff’s follow-up film after winning the SXSW Grand Jury Prize for debut feature in 2020 for Shithouse.

ICM Partners, WME, and Endeavor Content negotiated the deal, making it the biggest Sundance deal this year. This is coming on the same day as Searchlight/Hulu’s acquisition of Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, for $7.5 million. If critics are correct, we may see Cha Cha Real Smooth heavily featured during next year’s awards season.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter