Gran Torino opened on top of the Per Theater Chart with an outstanding average of $45,287 in six theaters. Wide expansion seems inevitable at this point. Likewise, Doubts debut of just over $500,000 in 15 theaters gave it an average $33,815 making expansion almost assured. Che - The Argentine was close behind with $30,535 in two theaters. The Reader opened with an average of $21,006 in 8 theaters, which most weeks would be enough to score top spot; however, given the competition, without continued success during Awards Season, it could struggle to expand. There were only two holdovers in the $10,000 club with Frost/Nixon earning an average of $16,061 and Slumdog Millionaire earning $12,873. The final $10,000 film was Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which opened with $10,985. However, both My Name Is Bruce and Wendy and Lucy came relatively close with averages of $9,119 and $9,109 respectively.

None of the rest of the new releases came close to the $10,000 market. In fact, only one film, Timecrimes, topped the Mendoza Line, and it barely did that with an average of $2,176 in two theaters. Where God Left His Shoes was next with $1,459. While She Was Out failed to reach triple digits with $866. Dark Streets pulled in $609 and $9.99 was the lowliest limited release of the week with an average of $478, but at least it topped Delgo and its average of $237.

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

• Happy-Go-Lucky topped $3 million this weekend, but that's as far as it will go.
• Milk reached $5 million early on Friday and it is already halfway to $10 million.
• Speaking of $10 million, Santa vs. the Snowman has become a yearly tradition playing in theaters every December since 2002. This year it was able to reach $10 million.
• Appaloosa lasted longer than expected, hitting $20 million. That makes it one of the most lucrative limited releases of the year.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2008-12-17