Theater Counts: Hidden Figures Expands Significantly for MLK, In Spite of New Release Rush
January 12, 2017
In the midst of a crazy week for new releases and wide expansions, Hidden Figures will increase its theater count by an impressive 818 this weekend, from 2,471 to 3,286, as it seeks to hold on to number one at the box office. That won’t make it the film in widest release, since Sing will hold on in 3,688 venues, but it does mean it’s held off the competition, at least in terms of availability. Whether it can stay number one at the box office remains to be seen, but the film seems like a natural fit for the MLK long weekend, so it’ll be a tough one to top.
Monster Trucks will be the widest new release as it arrives in 3,119 locations. That’s not expected to translate into much at the box office, although it’s hard to predict where it will end up (somewhere between fifth and fifteenth is probably a reasonable safe range). The Bye Bye Man will play in 2,220 theaters, and Sleepless in 1,803. Neither film is expected to feature in the top five this weekend.
Patriots Day, however, could push for first place. Lionsgate has announced it will play in 3,120 theaters and it will be in a head-to-head battle with Hidden Figures. The extra 166 theaters for the incumbent number one film might be the edge that it needs to prevail.
The two other wide expansions this weekend are Live by Night, which goes from 4 locations to 2,822; and Silence, which goes sort-of-wide in 747 movie houses.
All-in-all, we’re looking at a very busy long weekend at the box office.
Theater Counts for Weekend of January 13-15
Estimates for Weekend of January 20–22
Movie Distributor Estimated
TheatersxXx: Return of Xander Cage Paramount Pictures 3,000 Split Universal 3,000 The Founder Weinstein Co. 1,100 The Resurrection of Gavin Stone High Top Releasing 1,000
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