The First Grader (2011)

The First Grader poster
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $332,306Details
International Box Office $23,425Details
Worldwide Box Office $355,731
Further financial details...

Synopsis

In a small , remote mountain top primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the free education newly promised by the Kenyan government. One new applicant causes astonishment when he knocks on the door of the school. He is Maruge, an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties, who is desperate to learn to read at this late stage of his life. He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance of an education so long denied - even if It means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds. Moved by his passionate plea, head teach Jane Obinchu, supports his struggle to gain admission and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don’t want to waste a precious school place on a such an old man. Full of vitality and humour, the film explores the remarkable relationships Maruge builds with his classmates some eighty years his junior. Through Maruge’s journey, we are taken back to the shocking untold story of British colonial rule 50 years earlier where Maruge fought for the freedom of his country, eventually ending up in the extreme and harsh condition of the British detention camps.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$20,437 (6.2% of total gross)
Legs:5.81 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:93.4% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:3 opening theaters/36 max. theaters, 4.4 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $451,725

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 10,601-10,700) 10,607 $332,306
All Time International Box Office (Rank 21,701-21,800) 21,796 $23,425
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 19,001-19,100) 19,048 $355,731
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,941 $332,306

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: May 13th, 2011 (Limited) by National Geographic Entertainment
International Releases: November 23rd, 2012 (Wide) (Taiwan)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing violent content and brief nudity.
(Rating bulletin 2160, 2/23/2011)
Running Time: 103 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Rafiki
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Delayed Adulthood, Academics, Returning Soldiers, Inspirational Teacher, Autumn Years, Biography
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Dramatization
Production/Financing Companies: BBC Films, UK Film Council, Videovision Entertainment, Lipsync Productions, ARTE France, Sixth Sense, Origin Pictures Productions
Production Countries: Kenya
Languages: English

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
May 13, 2011 66 $20,437   3 $6,812   $20,437 1
May 20, 2011 52 $38,080 +86% 17 $2,240   $66,984 2
May 27, 2011 44 $57,239 +50% 36 $1,590   $139,768 3
Jun 3, 2011 44 $42,536 -26% 36 $1,182   $222,360 4
Jun 10, 2011 50 $26,052 -39% 30 $868   $270,171 5
Jun 17, 2011 65 $12,257 -53% 15 $817   $300,387 6
Jun 24, 2011 70 $8,434 -31% 11 $767   $316,818 7
Jul 1, 2011 73 $4,832 -43% 7 $690   $325,691 8
Jul 29, 2011 88 $1,773   3 $591   $330,533 12

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
May 30, 2011 41 $17,411     36 $484   $157,178 18
Jul 4, 2011 68 $1,112     7 $159   $326,803 53

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
May 13, 2011 66 $28,904   3 $9,635   $28,904 1
May 20, 2011 56 $53,625 +86% 17 $3,154   $82,529 2
May 27, 2011 45 $95,915 +79% 36 $2,664   $178,444 3
Jun 3, 2011 46 $63,981 -33% 36 $1,777   $243,805 4
Jun 10, 2011 50 $43,986 -31% 30 $1,466   $287,881 5
Jun 17, 2011 68 $20,116 -54% 15 $1,341   $308,297 6
Jun 24, 2011 74 $12,148 -40% 11 $1,104   $320,533 7
Jul 1, 2011 73 $7,574 -38% 6 $1,262   $330,533 8
Jul 29, 2011 101 $1,773   3 $591   $332,306 12

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date
Opening
Weekend
Opening
Weekend
Screens
Maximum
Screens
Theatrical
Engagements
Total
Box Office
Report
Date
Taiwan 11/23/2012 $0 0 1 4 $23,425 12/13/2015
 
International Total$23,425 12/13/2015

International Cumulative Box Office Records


Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records


Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.

Leading Cast

Naomie Harris    Jane Obinchu
Oliver Litondo    Maruge

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Justin Chadwick    Director
Joe Oppenheimer    Executive Producer
Norman Merry    Executive Producer
Anant Singh    Executive Producer
Helena Spring    Executive Producer
David M. Thompson    Producer
Sam Feuer    Producer
Richard Harding    Producer
Ann Peacock    Screenwriter
Paul Knight    Editor

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for December 27th, 2011

December 26th, 2011

It's the week after Christmas, so it should come as no surprise that there's not a lot to talk about on the home market. Granted, there are a few releases that are noteworthy, but it is a very shallow list. That said, we didn't have to lower the standard for Pick of the Week, as Archer: Season Two came out on DVD and Blu-ray. Either format is worth the money, while the latter is the better deal. More...

Per Theater Chart: L'Amour's In Love With Top Spot

May 17th, 2011

L'Amour Fou was the only film to top the $10,000 mark on the per theater chart, earning first place with an average of $18,625 in two theaters. The number two film on the overall box office chart, Bridesmaids, did at least come relatively close with an average of $8,995. More...

First Grade Limited Releases

May 13th, 2011

The list of limited releases on this week's chart is not nearly as long as last weekend, but there are several that having been earning strong advanced buzz. But how many will be able to live up to this buzz? More...


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Full Financials
  7. Cast & Crew
  8. Trailer

Synopsis

In a small , remote mountain top primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the free education newly promised by the Kenyan government. One new applicant causes astonishment when he knocks on the door of the school. He is Maruge, an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties, who is desperate to learn to read at this late stage of his life. He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance of an education so long denied - even if It means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds. Moved by his passionate plea, head teach Jane Obinchu, supports his struggle to gain admission and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don’t want to waste a precious school place on a such an old man. Full of vitality and humour, the film explores the remarkable relationships Maruge builds with his classmates some eighty years his junior. Through Maruge’s journey, we are taken back to the shocking untold story of British colonial rule 50 years earlier where Maruge fought for the freedom of his country, eventually ending up in the extreme and harsh condition of the British detention camps.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$20,437 (6.2% of total gross)
Legs:5.81 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:93.4% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:3 opening theaters/36 max. theaters, 4.4 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $451,725

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 10,601-10,700) 10,607 $332,306
All Time International Box Office (Rank 21,701-21,800) 21,796 $23,425
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 19,001-19,100) 19,048 $355,731
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,941 $332,306

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: May 13th, 2011 (Limited) by National Geographic Entertainment
International Releases: November 23rd, 2012 (Wide) (Taiwan)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing violent content and brief nudity.
(Rating bulletin 2160, 2/23/2011)
Running Time: 103 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Rafiki
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Delayed Adulthood, Academics, Returning Soldiers, Inspirational Teacher, Autumn Years, Biography
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Dramatization
Production/Financing Companies: BBC Films, UK Film Council, Videovision Entertainment, Lipsync Productions, ARTE France, Sixth Sense, Origin Pictures Productions
Production Countries: Kenya
Languages: English

Leading Cast

Naomie Harris    Jane Obinchu
Oliver Litondo    Maruge

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Justin Chadwick    Director
Joe Oppenheimer    Executive Producer
Norman Merry    Executive Producer
Anant Singh    Executive Producer
Helena Spring    Executive Producer
David M. Thompson    Producer
Sam Feuer    Producer
Richard Harding    Producer
Ann Peacock    Screenwriter
Paul Knight    Editor

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for December 27th, 2011

December 26th, 2011

It's the week after Christmas, so it should come as no surprise that there's not a lot to talk about on the home market. Granted, there are a few releases that are noteworthy, but it is a very shallow list. That said, we didn't have to lower the standard for Pick of the Week, as Archer: Season Two came out on DVD and Blu-ray. Either format is worth the money, while the latter is the better deal. More...

Per Theater Chart: L'Amour's In Love With Top Spot

May 17th, 2011

L'Amour Fou was the only film to top the $10,000 mark on the per theater chart, earning first place with an average of $18,625 in two theaters. The number two film on the overall box office chart, Bridesmaids, did at least come relatively close with an average of $8,995. More...

First Grade Limited Releases

May 13th, 2011

The list of limited releases on this week's chart is not nearly as long as last weekend, but there are several that having been earning strong advanced buzz. But how many will be able to live up to this buzz? More...

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
May 13, 2011 66 $20,437   3 $6,812   $20,437 1
May 20, 2011 52 $38,080 +86% 17 $2,240   $66,984 2
May 27, 2011 44 $57,239 +50% 36 $1,590   $139,768 3
Jun 3, 2011 44 $42,536 -26% 36 $1,182   $222,360 4
Jun 10, 2011 50 $26,052 -39% 30 $868   $270,171 5
Jun 17, 2011 65 $12,257 -53% 15 $817   $300,387 6
Jun 24, 2011 70 $8,434 -31% 11 $767   $316,818 7
Jul 1, 2011 73 $4,832 -43% 7 $690   $325,691 8
Jul 29, 2011 88 $1,773   3 $591   $330,533 12

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
May 30, 2011 41 $17,411     36 $484   $157,178 18
Jul 4, 2011 68 $1,112     7 $159   $326,803 53

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
May 13, 2011 66 $28,904   3 $9,635   $28,904 1
May 20, 2011 56 $53,625 +86% 17 $3,154   $82,529 2
May 27, 2011 45 $95,915 +79% 36 $2,664   $178,444 3
Jun 3, 2011 46 $63,981 -33% 36 $1,777   $243,805 4
Jun 10, 2011 50 $43,986 -31% 30 $1,466   $287,881 5
Jun 17, 2011 68 $20,116 -54% 15 $1,341   $308,297 6
Jun 24, 2011 74 $12,148 -40% 11 $1,104   $320,533 7
Jul 1, 2011 73 $7,574 -38% 6 $1,262   $330,533 8
Jul 29, 2011 101 $1,773   3 $591   $332,306 12

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date
Opening
Weekend
Opening
Weekend
Screens
Maximum
Screens
Theatrical
Engagements
Total
Box Office
Report
Date
Taiwan 11/23/2012 $0 0 1 4 $23,425 12/13/2015
 
International Total$23,425 12/13/2015

International Cumulative Box Office Records


Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records


Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.