Theater Averages: Star Wars Set Another Records with $59,982

December 22, 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens led the way on the theater average chart and broke the record for highest theater average for a wide release. Its average was $59,982, which is the fifth best opening theater average this year. This is just ahead of Ex Machina and just behind Carol. The Big Short fell 46% to $47,286. A 46% drop-off is bad news for a limited release most of the time, but The Force Awakens hurt all of the holdovers and I'm still bullish on its box office chances for its Wednesday expansion. Carol remained in the $10,000 for the fifth week in a row, this time earning an average of $14,446 in 16 theaters. Mojin: The Lost Legend opened with an average of $12,726 in 22 theaters, while Son of Saul was right behind with an average of $12,643.

There were a few other new limited releases that did well, including a pair Bollywood films: Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani. The former earned an average of $7,246 in 265 screens, while the latter managed $5,727 in 304. None of the rest of the new limited releases earned more than the Mendoza Line ($2,000). The Winding Stream came the closest with an average of $1,220 in three theaters. Extraction was next with an average of just $842 in 13. Noma My Perfect Storm and Dreams Rewired had near identical averages of $747 and $744 while playing in four and three theaters respectively. The Lady in the Car With Glasses and A Gun only managed an average of $149 in two theaters, but it likely did a whole lot better on VOD.

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

• The Danish Girl topped $1 million over the weekend and it still has room to grow.
• The Big Short also topped $1 million early in the weekend. It expands wide on Wednesday and should continue to do well, especially if it continues to shine during Awards Season.
• Bajirao Mastani earned more than $1 million over the weekend, so obviously it reached the first milestone.
• Dilwale also made $1 million over the weekend and hit $2 million with previews.
• Tamasha got to $2 million just before the weekend and that's likely as far as it will go.
• The End of the Tour ticked over the $3 million mark, more than 100 days after it hit $2 million.
• Brooklyn made it all the way past $15 million since this time last week. It is now just ahead Monkey Kingdom and just behind Seventh Son on the yearly chart.

C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: Theater Averages, The Danish Girl, Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens, The Ghouls, Brooklyn, The Big Short, Carol, Saul fia, Bajirao Mastani, Extraction, Noma: My Perfect Storm, La dame dans l’auto avec des lunettes et un fusil, Tamasha, Dilwale, Dreams Rewired, The Winding Stream