Thelma & Louise was screened out of competition as the closing film at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.[16] Theatrical release was delayed due to financial turmoil at MGM-Pathé.[17] The film eventually opened in American theaters on May 24, 1991[1] and was a box office success, grossing $45 million within the country.[18] The movie further proved very successful in the video rental market, and ended up as the most rented movie of 1992 in the United States.[19]
In February 2023, The Criterion Collection announced the film would be joining the collection in May that year.[20]
