LOS ANGELES (AP) ― It wasn’t backed by any Hollywood movie studio. Reviews were mostly negative. It premiered in Houston, not Los Angeles or New York. And yet despite the unconventional release of “2016: Obama’s America,’’ the movie is now among the most successful political documentaries of all time ― and it doesn’t show signs of cooling down ahead of the presidential election in November.

The conservative film exploring the roots of President Barack Obama’s political views surprised the film industry when it took in $6.5 million to land at No. 7 at last weekend’s domestic box office.

That makes “2016’’ the most successful conservative documentary of all time. It all adds up to a remarkable triumph for an indie film that circumvented the liberal waters of Hollywood.

“2016’’ is directed by Dinesh D’Souza, a former staffer for President Ronald Reagan who is now president of King’s College in New York and author of several books, including “The Roots of Obama’s Rage.’’ The book is the basis for “2016,’’ which claims Obama’s beliefs are rooted in the anti-colonialism of his late father, a Kenyan academic who was largely absent from the president’s life.