Note: Since this article was written, we have received opening weekend numbers for Ballet Russes, which earned $12,230 in a single theater, and tops the final chart

The re-release of The Passenger led the way on the per theatre charts, with an average of $12,079 in two theatres. Just behind was Paradise Now with a nearly identical average of $12,006, but the latter film did it in twice as many theatres. The only holdover to top $10,000 was Shopgirl, with 460,000 in 42 theatres for an average of $11,037. Lastly, the overall box office champ, Saw II , just managed to reach the that milestone with $31.7 million in 2,949 theatres for an average of $10,758.

This past week also saw milestones reached for a few Per Theatre Charts alumni:

• The Work and the Glory: American Zion hit $1 million over the weekend, but with its theatre count crashing, $2 million might be out of reach. On a side note, this was the first Mormon themed film to earn a nationwide release, but it seems that experiment has failed.
• G, a modern, urban retelling of The Great Gatsby, saw a huge increase in its theatre count, and scored a $1 million weekend. However, its per theatre average is low enough that a quick exit from theatres is likely.
• The Squid and the Whale made it to $1 million midweek and its per theatre average is strong enough to warrant another expansion, so its run is far from over.
• Grizzly Man
  managed to reach $3 million midweek, but that is the last milestone the film will reach.
• Capote earned more than $1 million over the weekend, topping $3 million in total. Look for further expansions and more milestones in this film's future.
• Good Night, and Good Luck made it all the way to $5 million midweek and is nearly halfway to reaching $10 million. Now all it needs is some healthy Oscar buzz and the film should earn massive widespread success.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2005-11-01