Per Theater Chart: The Big Short was Nearly the Biggest

December 15, 2015

We have a new champion on top of the per theater chart this week, as The Big Short earned one of the best limited release openings of the year. Its average of $88,191 was behind only Steve Jobs for the year and Steve Jobs opened in half as many theaters as The Big Short, 8 to 4. Carol remained strong in second place with an average of $21,105 in 16 theaters. Thankfully it is expanding, but I'm worried the studio waited too long and it won't reach its potential. Yellow Day opened with an average of $13,130 in two theaters. The Danish Girl rounded out the $10,000 club with an average of $10,964 in 24 theaters. By this time next week, it could be over $1 million in total.

None of the rest of the new limited releases did well. The Boy in the World only managed an average of $3,296 in two theaters. This isn't good, but it's not uncommon for an animated film in limited release. Body only managed $2,457 in its lone theater. The Girl in the Book only managed $525 in ten theaters, while Don Verdean earned $323 in 40.

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

• Big Stone Gap reached $1 million over the weekend, but that's as far as it will go.
• The Letters topped $1 million before the weekend, but that's likely as far as it will go.
• Legend also got to $1 million before the weekend, but it has a good shot at $2 million. It might even get to $3 million with the holidays coming up.
• Carol hit $1 million over the weekend, but it has a lot of room to expand, so it is too soon to tell where it will end up.
• Chi-raq has already reached $2 million and could get to $3 million. This isn't bad for a limited release, but expectations were higher than this.
• Room got to $4 million over the weekend. Its Awards Season success so far suggests it will get to $5 million. Anything beyond that will require an Oscar win or two.
• As expected, Trumbo reached $5 million. Its Awards Season performance is better than anticipated, so getting to $10 million is possible, but not likely.
• Likewise, Spotlight just managed to get to $20 million over the weekend. At this pace, it should have no trouble getting to $25 million, perhaps by the end of the year. $30 million and beyond could happen, especially if it starts winning major awards.

C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: Theater Averages, The Danish Girl, The Letters, Trumbo, Spotlight, Steve Jobs, Room, Don Verdean, The Big Short, Body, Carol, Chi-raq, Legend, Big Stone Gap, The Girl in the Book, O Menino e o Mundo