Blade Runner climbed into first place on the Per Theater Chart with an average of $32,681 in two theaters during its second week of re-release. Control debuted in second place with $27,674 in its one theater. Lars and the Real Girl opened with just over $90,000 in 7 theaters for an average of $12,917. This is a good start, better than most limited releases can hope for, but less than I was expecting. The Darjeeling Limited continues to perform marvelously as it expands as it earned an average of $11,425 in nearly 100 theaters. The overall box office leader, Why Did I Get Married? opened with an average of $10,618.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa was the best of the rest, earning over $500,000 in 55 theaters for an average of $9,309. Canvas opened well with an average of $6,550 in two theaters while Journey of a Woman also did well with an average of $5,350 in 60. Sleuth missed expectations with an average of $5,141, which doesn't bode well for any serious expansion. Terror's Advocate and Naked Boys Singing opened with nearly identical averages, $3,732 vs. $3,690. Finally, Passage to Zarahemla opened with under $60,000 in 28 theaters for an average of just $2,071.

This past week also saw milestones reached for a few Per Theater Chart alumni:

• Lust, Caution hit $1 million over the weekend and with a per theater average that is healthy enough to suggest further expansion, it should reach a few more milestones with ease.
• On the other hand, while Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure also made $1 million over the weekend, it will likely shed theaters rather briskly and it won't get much beyond $2 million, if it even reaches that milestone.
• Likewise, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford topped $1 million very early in the weekend, but it has clearly peaked at the box office making each additional milestone that much harder to reach.
• The Darjeeling Limited reached $1 million during the week and $2 million over the weekend. At this point it is hard to say where it will end up, but it is safe to say it's run is far from over.
• Jane Austen's Book Club topped $3 million over the weekend, barely, but that's likely as far as it will go.
• Into the Wild managed $3 million before the weekend and almost hit $4 million by the end of the weekend. Additionally, its per theater average is still strong and it could expand further.
• Ladron Que Roba a Ladron made it to $4 million, but that's as far as it will go. Still, this is a good showing for a foreign language film.
• Across the Universe topped $10 million this weekend, and it isn't done yet.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2007-10-16