Theater counts: Don’t Worry Darling debuts in 4,113 theaters and Avatar returns to the big screen

September 22, 2022

As another weekend approaches, another new arrival takes over as the widest release of the week. Releasing in more theaters than originally projected, Don’t Worry Darling makes its theatrical entrance in a robust 4,113 locations this week, which is more than enough to overtake last week’s widest release and box office number one, The Woman King, as the latter keeps its opening count of 3,765 theaters from its inaugural week. Don’t Worry Darling technically isn’t the only new wide release of the week, as On the Come Up hits the scene by playing in 603 cinemas. Mega-hit Avatar is being re-released in 1,860 locations prior to its successor, Avatar: The Way of Water’s December 16th launch.

Don’t Worry Darling follows a 1950s housewife who, while living with her husband in a utopian experimental community, begins to worry that his glamorous company may be hiding disturbing secrets. The film stars Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, and is the first film to open in over 4,000 theaters since Bullet Train debuted in early August. Last week’s box office champ The Woman King took in just over $19 million in its opening weekend and currently enjoys a six day domestic total of $23.9 million.

While we don’t have a confirmed theater count for Pearl, the 1910s set slasher-horror showed in 2,935 locations last week and landed in third place at the weekend box office with $3.1 million in its first three days. It will most likely play in a very similar number of theaters this weekend.

Rounding out the top five is Barbarian, adding 550 theaters this week for a location count of 2,890, and finally See How They Run, playing in 2,502 theaters.

The latest from Paramount Pictures, On the Come Up is a coming-of-age drama based on the 2019 novel of the same name by Angie Thomas and is directed by Sanaa Lathan in her directorial debut while starring relative newcomer Jamila C. Gray in the lead role.

Once again there is no shortage of limited release films hitting theaters this week, and in particular foreign films are in abundance. Cuando Sea Joven, the Mexican remake of the Korean comedy Miss Granny is set to release in 315 locations across North America. Showing in 19 theaters this week is the Chinese comedy Give Me Five. The film follows a man who while helping his aging father recover lost memories, is transported back in time where he accidentally alters his parent’s past. Next is Carmen starring Natascha McElhone. The Malta set and produced drama which is inspired by true events debuts in five locations. Lastly, showing in two locations each, are Young Plato and Grand Jeté.

Next week we see two wide releases make their entrance into theaters with Bros and Smile. The former, a romantic comedy directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Billy Eichner is expected to arrive in about 3,200 locations. The latter, a supernatural horror written and directed by Parker Finn is set to debut in an estimated 3,400 theaters.

Theater Counts for September 23

Estimates for September 30

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Avatar, Sanaa Lathan, Natascha McElhone, Nicholas Stoller, Harry Styles, Billy Eichner, Florence Pugh, Parker Finn, Jamila C. Gray