 Mystery Train was released theatrically by Orion Classics under a restricted rating in the United States , where it grossed over $ 1 @.@ 5 million . It enjoyed critical acclaim on the film festival circuit , and like the director 's earlier films premiered at the New York Film Festival and was shown in competition at Cannes , where Jarmusch was awarded the Best Artistic Achievement Award . The film was also shown in the Edinburgh , London , Midnight Sun , Telluride , and Toronto film festivals , and was nominated in six categories at the Independent Spirit Awards . Critical reaction was overwhelmingly positive , with reviewers praising the structure , humor , and characters of the film , though there were discontented rumblings that the director had not been sufficiently adventurous . 
