Theater Counts [Update 2]: Last Jedi Launches in 4,232 Theaters
December 14, 2017
As I predicted last week, the final theater count for The Last Jedi is about 100 more than Disney’s original projection. The latest from the Star Wars franchise will play in 4,232 theaters on Friday, 78 more than screened The Force Awakens two years ago.
With sellouts expected virtually everywhere, starting this evening, the film has a shot at challenging the original’s record $248 million opening weekend, although our prediction is a more conservative $210 million, which would still be the second-biggest weekend in history.
We will, of course, be reporting everything that comes in, as soon as we hear it. Disney has so far not released any official numbers for international territories, which is possibly just because they spent $52 billion on buying Fox today. That’s enough to keep even them busy.
Speaking of Fox, Ferdinand will open in an impressive 3,621 locations.
Looking ahead to next weekend, which is made a little confusing because Christmas Day lands on a Monday this year, Jumanji gets a head start, opening in 3,600 theaters on Wednesday. Also getting an early jump on things is The Greatest Showman, in 3,100. Pitch Perfect 3 will open in a robust 3,400 theaters on Friday. Also opening on Friday, Father Figures will play in about 2,800, and Downsizing starts out in a more modest 2,500 locations.
A couple of limited releases are generating a lot of buzz, and will debut over the long weekend. The Post starts out in nine theaters on Friday, and Phantom Thread debuts in 4 on Christmas Day.
Finally, on Christmas Day, All the Money in the World will open in an estimated 2,000 theaters.
Given the sheer quantity of films coming out over the long Christmas weekend, expect to see big losses in theater count for many of the films playing this weekend.
Theater Counts for Weekend of December 15-17
Estimates for Films Released on December 20
Movie Distributor Estimated
TheatersJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Sony Pictures 3,600 The Greatest Showman 20th Century Fox 3,100
Estimates for Weekend of December 22
Movie Distributor Estimated
TheatersPitch Perfect 3 Universal 3,400 Father Figures Warner Bros. 2,800 Downsizing Paramount Pictures 2,500 The Post 20th Century Fox 9
Estimates for December 25
Movie Distributor Estimated
TheatersPhantom Thread Focus Features 4 All the Money in the World Sony Pictures 2,000
Filed under: Theater Counts, Star Wars