Amistad (1997)

Amistad poster
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $44,212,592Details
International Box Office $14,037,559Details
Worldwide Box Office $58,250,151
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$4,573,523 (10.3% of total gross)
Legs:8.54 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:75.9% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$40,000,000 (worldwide box office is 1.5 times production budget)
Theater counts:322 opening theaters/1,019 max. theaters, 10.1 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $100,574,757

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: December 12th, 1997 (Wide) by Dreamworks SKG
Video Release: November 10th, 1998 by Dreamworks Video
MPAA Rating: R for some scenes of strong brutal violence and some related nudity
Running Time: 152 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Freeheld
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: On a Boat, Mutiny, Slavery, Courtroom / Legal Drama, Intertitle, Culture Clash, Language Barrier, Epilogue
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Dramatization
Production/Financing Companies: DreamWorks Pictures
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English, Mende, Spanish

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date
Days In
Release
Biggest 14th Weekend Limited Release 97 $304,866 Mar 13, 1998 94
Biggest 10th Weekend Limited Release 78 $818,699 Feb 13, 1998 66
Biggest 9th Weekend Limited Release 87 $958,728 Feb 6, 1998 59
Biggest 8th Weekend Limited Release 67 $1,383,825 Jan 30, 1998 52
Biggest 7th Weekend Limited Release 57 $1,759,880 Jan 23, 1998 45
Biggest 6th Weekend Limited Release 39 $2,679,692 Jan 16, 1998 38
Martin Luther King (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 371 $6,456,402 Jan 16, 1998 38
Martin Luther King (All Movies, 4-Day, Fri-Mon, Inflation Adjusted) 244 $7,832,979 Jan 16, 1998 38
Biggest 5th Weekend Limited Release 61 $2,688,003 Jan 9, 1998 31
Biggest 4th Weekend Limited Release 22 $4,477,454 Jan 2, 1998 24
New Year's Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 290 $10,787,895 Jan 2, 1998 24
Biggest 3rd Weekend Limited Release 11 $5,176,006 Dec 26, 1997 17
Christmas (All Movies, 3-Day) 292 $5,176,006 Dec 26, 1997 17
Christmas (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 260 $12,742,671 Dec 26, 1997 17
Biggest 2nd Weekend Limited Release 20 $3,280,336 Dec 19, 1997 10
Biggest Opening Weekend Limited Release 6 $4,573,523 Dec 12, 1997 3
Top 1997 Theater Average 58 $14,203 Dec 12, 1997 3

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 12, 1997 5 $4,573,523   322 $14,203   $4,661,866 1
Dec 19, 1997 8 $3,280,336 -28% 480 $6,834   $9,674,595 2
Dec 26, 1997 11 $5,176,006 +58% 712 $7,270   $17,768,155 3
Jan 2, 1998 7 $4,477,454 -13% 726 $6,167   $26,714,127 4
Jan 9, 1998 10 $2,688,003 -40% 773 $3,477   $30,797,832 5
Jan 16, 1998 10 $2,679,692 n/c 1,001 $2,677   $34,461,000 6
Jan 23, 1998 12 $1,759,880 -34% 1,019 $1,727   $37,414,589 7
Jan 30, 1998 14 $1,383,825 -21% 908 $1,524   $39,472,352 8
Feb 6, 1998 16 $958,728 -31% 818 $1,172   $40,860,661 9
Feb 13, 1998 18 $818,699 -15% 801 $1,022   $42,005,754 10
Feb 20, 1998 18 $412,888 -50% 601 $687   $42,606,630 11
Feb 27, 1998 25 $252,201 -39% 401 $629   $43,011,294 12
Mar 6, 1998 40 $114,550 -55% 226 $507   $43,222,082 13
Mar 13, 1998 26 $304,866 +166% 570 $535   $43,571,219 14
Mar 20, 1998 28 $213,748 -30% 426 $502   $43,935,837 15
Mar 27, 1998 41 $73,319 -66% 317 $231   $44,107,804 16
Apr 3, 1998 61 $27,655 -62% 169 $164   $44,175,394 17

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
Dec 12, 1997 4 $1,385,000     322 $4,301   $1,385,000 1
Dec 13, 1997 5 $1,835,000 +32%   322 $5,699   $1,835,000 2
Dec 14, 1997 5 $1,375,000 -25%   322 $4,270   $4,662,000 3
Dec 15, 1997 2 $432,173 -69%   322 $1,342   $5,094,039 4
Dec 16, 1997 2 $438,960 +2%   322 $1,363   $5,532,999 5
Dec 17, 1997 2 $428,131 -2%   322 $1,330   $5,961,130 6
Dec 19, 1997 7 $935,000   -32% 480 $1,948   $0 8
Dec 21, 1997 10 $0   -100% 480 $0   $9,674,595 10
Dec 22, 1997 7 $568,266   +31% 480 $1,184   $10,242,861 11
Dec 23, 1997 8 $585,000 +3% +33% 480 $1,219   $10,818,000 12
Dec 24, 1997 6 $450,000 -23% +5% 480 $938   $11,289,000 13
Dec 25, 1997 10 $1,260,000 +180%   480 $2,625   $12,554,000 14
Jan 1, 1998 8 $1,585,000   +26% 712 $2,226   $22,211,000 21
Jan 2, 1998 10 $1,610,000 +2%   712 $2,261   $23,821,000 22
Jan 3, 1998 8 $1,820,000 +13%   712 $2,556   $25,641,000 23
Jan 4, 1998 7 $1,041,000 -43%   726 $1,434   $26,714,127 24
Jan 5, 1998 6 $359,896 -65%   726 $496   $27,074,023 25
Jan 6, 1998 6 $370,842 +3%   726 $511   $27,444,865 26
Jan 7, 1998 6 $333,470 -10%   726 $459   $27,778,315 27
Jan 8, 1998 6 $330,494 -1% -79% 726 $455   $28,109,829 28
Jan 9, 1998 10 $720,000 +118% -55% 773 $931   $28,830,000 29
Jan 10, 1998 10 $1,315,000 +83% -28% 773 $1,701   $30,150,000 30
Jan 11, 1998 10 $652,000 -50% -37% 773 $843   $30,797,832 31
Jan 12, 1998 9 $201,994 -69% -44% 773 $261   $30,999,826 32
Jan 13, 1998 9 $249,342 +23% -33% 773 $323   $31,249,158 33
Jan 14, 1998 8 $218,523 -12% -34% 773 $283   $31,467,690 34
Jan 15, 1998 9 $223,618 +2% -32% 773 $289   $31,691,308 35
Jan 16, 1998 10 $670,000 +200% -7% 1,001 $669   $32,361,000 36
Jan 17, 1998 10 $1,210,000 +81% -8% 1,001 $1,209   $33,571,000 37
Jan 18, 1998 10 $890,000 -26% +37% 1,001 $889   $34,461,000 38
Jan 19, 1998 11 $571,339 -36% +183% 1,001 $571   $35,032,339 39
Jan 20, 1998 10 $225,227 -61% -10% 1,001 $225   $35,257,566 40
Jan 21, 1998 9 $197,850 -12% -9% 1,001 $198   $35,455,416 41

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 12, 1997 4 $6,305,916   322 $19,584   $6,394,259 1
Dec 19, 1997 7 $6,197,890 -2% 480 $12,912   $12,592,149 2
Dec 26, 1997 10 $9,644,524 +56% 712 $13,546   $22,236,673 3
Jan 2, 1998 10 $5,873,156 -39% 726 $8,090   $28,109,829 4
Jan 9, 1998 10 $3,581,479 -39% 773 $4,633   $31,691,308 5
Jan 16, 1998 11 $3,963,401 +11% 1,001 $3,959   $35,654,709 6
Jan 23, 1998 11 $2,433,818 -39% 1,019 $2,388   $38,088,527 7
Jan 30, 1998 13 $1,813,406 -25% 908 $1,997   $39,901,933 8
Feb 6, 1998 15 $1,285,122 -29% 818 $1,571   $41,187,055 9
Feb 13, 1998 18 $1,006,687 -22% 801 $1,257   $42,193,742 10
Feb 20, 1998 18 $565,351 -44% 601 $941   $42,759,093 11
Feb 27, 1998 26 $348,439 -38% 401 $869   $43,107,532 12
Mar 6, 1998 40 $158,821 -54% 226 $703   $43,266,353 13
Mar 13, 1998 26 $455,736 +187% 570 $800   $43,722,089 14
Mar 20, 1998 28 $312,396 -31% 426 $733   $44,034,485 15
Mar 27, 1998 38 $113,254 -64% 317 $357   $44,147,739 16

International Cumulative Box Office Records


Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records


Leading Cast

Morgan Freeman    Theodore Joadson
Anthony Hopkins    John Quincy Adams
Djimon Hounsou    Cinque
Matthew McConaughey    Baldwin

Supporting Cast

Nigel Hawthorne    Martin Van Buren
David Paymer    Secretary Forsyth
Pete Postlethwaite    Holabird
Stellan Skarsgård    Tappan
Anna Paquin    Queen Isabella
Juliette Darko    Teme
Razaaq Adoti    Yamba
Abu Bakaar Fofanah    Fala
Milian Tomas    Calderon
Chiwetel Ejiofor    Ens. Covey
Derrick N. Ashong    Buakei
Geno Silva    Ruiz
John Ortiz    Montes
Ralph Brown    Lieutenant Gedney
Darren Burrows    Lieutenant Meade
Allan Rich    Judge Juttson
Paul Guilfoyle    Attorney
Peter Firth    Captain Fitzgerald
Xander Berkeley    Hammond
Jeremy Northam    Judge Coglin
Arliss Howard    John C. Calhoun
Willie Amakye    Folowa
Luc Assogba    Gbatui
Mariah Campbell    Masery
Stephen Conteh    Morlai
Habib Conteh    Bai
Monguehy Fanzy    Fabanna
Jimmy Fotso    Kwong
Adekunle Ilori    Kahei
Sheriff Kargbo    Almamy
Saye Lah    Kessebe
Sylvestre Massaquoi    Santigiie
Samson Odede    Kpona
Chike Okpala    Sorie
Willie Onafesso    Jina
Samuel Pieh    Suuleh
Lansana Sawi    Morlu
Abu Sidique    Tsukama
El Hadj Malik Sow    Golabu
Lamine Thiam    Mahmud
Austin Pendleton    Professor Gibbs
Daniel von Bargen    Warden Pendelton
Rusty Schwimmer    Mrs. Pendelton
Pedro Armendáriz, Jr.    General Espatero
Frank T. Wells    Crier
Michael Massee    Prison Guard
Roy Cooper    Pickney
Jake Weber    Mr. Wright
Victor Rivers    Captain Ferrar
Joseph Kosseh    Birmaja
Steve Passewe    Cinque's In-law
Sherly Acosta Williams    Cinque's Wife
Matt Sarles    Young Aide
George Gerdes    Marshal
Jerry Molen    Magistrate
Kevin J. O’Connor    Missionary
Robert Walsh    Guardsman
Sean McGuirk    Courier
Tony Owen    Farmer
William Young    Businessman
Michael Riley    British Officer
Leon Singer    Don Pablo
Castulo Guerra    Spanish Priest
Harry Groener    Tecora Captain
James Hawthorne    Creole Cook
Ingrid Walters    Woman Overboard with Baby
Harry A. Blackmun    Associate Justice Joseph Story
Curtis Shields    Bassie
Charles Udoma    Kessebe
Tony Onafesso    Baa
Clarence Mobley    Kenei
Edward Appiah    Followolo
Paul Mwakutuya    Sessi
Samuel Orekhio    Fawni
Ransford Thomas    Alkali
Issac Mayanja    Sanja
Roosevelt Flenoury    Njaooni
Carlos Spivey    Chike
Andrew L. Josiah    Tamba
Peter Mansaray    Kapr
Brian Macon    Yauai
Denver Dowridge    Kpau
Rory Burton    Vakina
Omo Lara Tosin    Kula
Charlean Isata Bangalie    Margru
M. S. Kaleiwo    Kaleiwo

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Steven Spielberg    Director
David Franzoni    Written by
Steven Spielberg    Producer
Debbie Allen    Producer
Colin Wilson    Producer
Tim Shriver    Co-Producer
Walter Parks    Executive Producer
Laurie MacDonald    Executive Producer
Robert Cooper    Co-Executive Producer
Bonnie Curtis    Associate Producer
Paul Deason    Associate Producer
Janusz Kaminski    Director of Photography
Rick Carter    Production Designer
Michael Kahn    Film Editor
Ruth E. Carter    Costume Designer
Sue Moore    Costume Supervisor
John Williams    Music by
Victoria Thomas    Casting
Priscilla John    Casting (UK and Africa)
Sergio Mimica-Gezzan    Assistant Director
Paul Deason    Unit Production Manager
Chris Burian-Mohr    Art Director
Jim Teegarden    Art Director
Tony Fanning    Art Director
Rosemary Brandenberg    Set Decorator
Ve Neill    Makeup
Ronald Judkins    Production Sound Mixer
Robert Jackson    Production Sound Mixer
Andy Nelson    Re-recording Mixer
Anna Behlmer    Re-recording Mixer
Shawn Murphy    Re-recording Mixer
Charles L. Campbell    Supervising Sound Editor
Louis L. Edemann    Supervising Sound Editor
Rick Franklin    Sound Editor
Jeffrey A. Clark    Sound Editor
*    Sound Editor
Edward Fassl    Sound Editor
Leonard T. Geschke    Sound Editor
Doug Jackson    Sound Editor
Gary Krivacek    Sound Editor
Chuck Neely    Sound Editor
Howard S. M. Neiman    Sound Editor
Bruce Richardson    Sound Editor
Ken Wannberg    Music Editor
Robert L. Stevenson    Hairstylist (Key)
Deena Adair    Hairstylist (Morgan Freeman)
Chrissie Beveridge    Makeup and Hair (Anthony Hopkins)
M. James Arnett    Stunt Coordinator
Easton Smith    Set Designer

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for May 6th, 2014

May 6th, 2014

It's a short list this week, because there's almost nothing worth talking about. The best-selling new release according to Amazon is Veronica Mars, while the first page of new releases is dominated by Godzilla titles, and not even good Godzilla titles. There are not a lot of new releases that are contenders for Pick of the Week, but Still Mine on DVD is the best of what is out there. Meanwhile, another Canadian release, Republic of Doyle: Season 1 earns an honorable mention and is the Puck of the Week. More...

Featured Blu-ray review - Amistad

May 5th, 2014

I don't think it is unfair to call Amistad Oscar-bait. It is a film based on a powerful real life story that came out in theaters in December, right in the heart of Oscar season. However, it didn't live up to expectations, either with critics or at the box office. It did pick up four Oscar nominations, but it failed to convert any of those into wins. Then again, "Not quite good enough for Oscars." is hardly a damning statement. Was the movie hurt by unrealistic expectations? Has it aged well in the years since it came out? And is the Blu-ray worth picking up? More...


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$4,573,523 (10.3% of total gross)
Legs:8.54 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:75.9% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$40,000,000 (worldwide box office is 1.5 times production budget)
Theater counts:322 opening theaters/1,019 max. theaters, 10.1 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $100,574,757

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: December 12th, 1997 (Wide) by Dreamworks SKG
Video Release: November 10th, 1998 by Dreamworks Video
MPAA Rating: R for some scenes of strong brutal violence and some related nudity
Running Time: 152 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Freeheld
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: On a Boat, Mutiny, Slavery, Courtroom / Legal Drama, Intertitle, Culture Clash, Language Barrier, Epilogue
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Dramatization
Production/Financing Companies: DreamWorks Pictures
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English, Mende, Spanish

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date
Days In
Release
Biggest 14th Weekend Limited Release 97 $304,866 Mar 13, 1998 94
Biggest 10th Weekend Limited Release 78 $818,699 Feb 13, 1998 66
Biggest 9th Weekend Limited Release 87 $958,728 Feb 6, 1998 59
Biggest 8th Weekend Limited Release 67 $1,383,825 Jan 30, 1998 52
Biggest 7th Weekend Limited Release 57 $1,759,880 Jan 23, 1998 45
Biggest 6th Weekend Limited Release 39 $2,679,692 Jan 16, 1998 38
Martin Luther King (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 371 $6,456,402 Jan 16, 1998 38
Martin Luther King (All Movies, 4-Day, Fri-Mon, Inflation Adjusted) 244 $7,832,979 Jan 16, 1998 38
Biggest 5th Weekend Limited Release 61 $2,688,003 Jan 9, 1998 31
Biggest 4th Weekend Limited Release 22 $4,477,454 Jan 2, 1998 24
New Year's Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 290 $10,787,895 Jan 2, 1998 24
Biggest 3rd Weekend Limited Release 11 $5,176,006 Dec 26, 1997 17
Christmas (All Movies, 3-Day) 292 $5,176,006 Dec 26, 1997 17
Christmas (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 260 $12,742,671 Dec 26, 1997 17
Biggest 2nd Weekend Limited Release 20 $3,280,336 Dec 19, 1997 10
Biggest Opening Weekend Limited Release 6 $4,573,523 Dec 12, 1997 3
Top 1997 Theater Average 58 $14,203 Dec 12, 1997 3

Leading Cast

Morgan Freeman    Theodore Joadson
Anthony Hopkins    John Quincy Adams
Djimon Hounsou    Cinque
Matthew McConaughey    Baldwin

Supporting Cast

Nigel Hawthorne    Martin Van Buren
David Paymer    Secretary Forsyth
Pete Postlethwaite    Holabird
Stellan Skarsgård    Tappan
Anna Paquin    Queen Isabella
Juliette Darko    Teme
Razaaq Adoti    Yamba
Abu Bakaar Fofanah    Fala
Milian Tomas    Calderon
Chiwetel Ejiofor    Ens. Covey
Derrick N. Ashong    Buakei
Geno Silva    Ruiz
John Ortiz    Montes
Ralph Brown    Lieutenant Gedney
Darren Burrows    Lieutenant Meade
Allan Rich    Judge Juttson
Paul Guilfoyle    Attorney
Peter Firth    Captain Fitzgerald
Xander Berkeley    Hammond
Jeremy Northam    Judge Coglin
Arliss Howard    John C. Calhoun
Willie Amakye    Folowa
Luc Assogba    Gbatui
Mariah Campbell    Masery
Stephen Conteh    Morlai
Habib Conteh    Bai
Monguehy Fanzy    Fabanna
Jimmy Fotso    Kwong
Adekunle Ilori    Kahei
Sheriff Kargbo    Almamy
Saye Lah    Kessebe
Sylvestre Massaquoi    Santigiie
Samson Odede    Kpona
Chike Okpala    Sorie
Willie Onafesso    Jina
Samuel Pieh    Suuleh
Lansana Sawi    Morlu
Abu Sidique    Tsukama
El Hadj Malik Sow    Golabu
Lamine Thiam    Mahmud
Austin Pendleton    Professor Gibbs
Daniel von Bargen    Warden Pendelton
Rusty Schwimmer    Mrs. Pendelton
Pedro Armendáriz, Jr.    General Espatero
Frank T. Wells    Crier
Michael Massee    Prison Guard
Roy Cooper    Pickney
Jake Weber    Mr. Wright
Victor Rivers    Captain Ferrar
Joseph Kosseh    Birmaja
Steve Passewe    Cinque's In-law
Sherly Acosta Williams    Cinque's Wife
Matt Sarles    Young Aide
George Gerdes    Marshal
Jerry Molen    Magistrate
Kevin J. O’Connor    Missionary
Robert Walsh    Guardsman
Sean McGuirk    Courier
Tony Owen    Farmer
William Young    Businessman
Michael Riley    British Officer
Leon Singer    Don Pablo
Castulo Guerra    Spanish Priest
Harry Groener    Tecora Captain
James Hawthorne    Creole Cook
Ingrid Walters    Woman Overboard with Baby
Harry A. Blackmun    Associate Justice Joseph Story
Curtis Shields    Bassie
Charles Udoma    Kessebe
Tony Onafesso    Baa
Clarence Mobley    Kenei
Edward Appiah    Followolo
Paul Mwakutuya    Sessi
Samuel Orekhio    Fawni
Ransford Thomas    Alkali
Issac Mayanja    Sanja
Roosevelt Flenoury    Njaooni
Carlos Spivey    Chike
Andrew L. Josiah    Tamba
Peter Mansaray    Kapr
Brian Macon    Yauai
Denver Dowridge    Kpau
Rory Burton    Vakina
Omo Lara Tosin    Kula
Charlean Isata Bangalie    Margru
M. S. Kaleiwo    Kaleiwo

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Steven Spielberg    Director
David Franzoni    Written by
Steven Spielberg    Producer
Debbie Allen    Producer
Colin Wilson    Producer
Tim Shriver    Co-Producer
Walter Parks    Executive Producer
Laurie MacDonald    Executive Producer
Robert Cooper    Co-Executive Producer
Bonnie Curtis    Associate Producer
Paul Deason    Associate Producer
Janusz Kaminski    Director of Photography
Rick Carter    Production Designer
Michael Kahn    Film Editor
Ruth E. Carter    Costume Designer
Sue Moore    Costume Supervisor
John Williams    Music by
Victoria Thomas    Casting
Priscilla John    Casting (UK and Africa)
Sergio Mimica-Gezzan    Assistant Director
Paul Deason    Unit Production Manager
Chris Burian-Mohr    Art Director
Jim Teegarden    Art Director
Tony Fanning    Art Director
Rosemary Brandenberg    Set Decorator
Ve Neill    Makeup
Ronald Judkins    Production Sound Mixer
Robert Jackson    Production Sound Mixer
Andy Nelson    Re-recording Mixer
Anna Behlmer    Re-recording Mixer
Shawn Murphy    Re-recording Mixer
Charles L. Campbell    Supervising Sound Editor
Louis L. Edemann    Supervising Sound Editor
Rick Franklin    Sound Editor
Jeffrey A. Clark    Sound Editor
*    Sound Editor
Edward Fassl    Sound Editor
Leonard T. Geschke    Sound Editor
Doug Jackson    Sound Editor
Gary Krivacek    Sound Editor
Chuck Neely    Sound Editor
Howard S. M. Neiman    Sound Editor
Bruce Richardson    Sound Editor
Ken Wannberg    Music Editor
Robert L. Stevenson    Hairstylist (Key)
Deena Adair    Hairstylist (Morgan Freeman)
Chrissie Beveridge    Makeup and Hair (Anthony Hopkins)
M. James Arnett    Stunt Coordinator
Easton Smith    Set Designer

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for May 6th, 2014

May 6th, 2014

It's a short list this week, because there's almost nothing worth talking about. The best-selling new release according to Amazon is Veronica Mars, while the first page of new releases is dominated by Godzilla titles, and not even good Godzilla titles. There are not a lot of new releases that are contenders for Pick of the Week, but Still Mine on DVD is the best of what is out there. Meanwhile, another Canadian release, Republic of Doyle: Season 1 earns an honorable mention and is the Puck of the Week. More...

Featured Blu-ray review - Amistad

May 5th, 2014

I don't think it is unfair to call Amistad Oscar-bait. It is a film based on a powerful real life story that came out in theaters in December, right in the heart of Oscar season. However, it didn't live up to expectations, either with critics or at the box office. It did pick up four Oscar nominations, but it failed to convert any of those into wins. Then again, "Not quite good enough for Oscars." is hardly a damning statement. Was the movie hurt by unrealistic expectations? Has it aged well in the years since it came out? And is the Blu-ray worth picking up? More...

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 12, 1997 5 $4,573,523   322 $14,203   $4,661,866 1
Dec 19, 1997 8 $3,280,336 -28% 480 $6,834   $9,674,595 2
Dec 26, 1997 11 $5,176,006 +58% 712 $7,270   $17,768,155 3
Jan 2, 1998 7 $4,477,454 -13% 726 $6,167   $26,714,127 4
Jan 9, 1998 10 $2,688,003 -40% 773 $3,477   $30,797,832 5
Jan 16, 1998 10 $2,679,692 n/c 1,001 $2,677   $34,461,000 6
Jan 23, 1998 12 $1,759,880 -34% 1,019 $1,727   $37,414,589 7
Jan 30, 1998 14 $1,383,825 -21% 908 $1,524   $39,472,352 8
Feb 6, 1998 16 $958,728 -31% 818 $1,172   $40,860,661 9
Feb 13, 1998 18 $818,699 -15% 801 $1,022   $42,005,754 10
Feb 20, 1998 18 $412,888 -50% 601 $687   $42,606,630 11
Feb 27, 1998 25 $252,201 -39% 401 $629   $43,011,294 12
Mar 6, 1998 40 $114,550 -55% 226 $507   $43,222,082 13
Mar 13, 1998 26 $304,866 +166% 570 $535   $43,571,219 14
Mar 20, 1998 28 $213,748 -30% 426 $502   $43,935,837 15
Mar 27, 1998 41 $73,319 -66% 317 $231   $44,107,804 16
Apr 3, 1998 61 $27,655 -62% 169 $164   $44,175,394 17

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
Dec 12, 1997 4 $1,385,000     322 $4,301   $1,385,000 1
Dec 13, 1997 5 $1,835,000 +32%   322 $5,699   $1,835,000 2
Dec 14, 1997 5 $1,375,000 -25%   322 $4,270   $4,662,000 3
Dec 15, 1997 2 $432,173 -69%   322 $1,342   $5,094,039 4
Dec 16, 1997 2 $438,960 +2%   322 $1,363   $5,532,999 5
Dec 17, 1997 2 $428,131 -2%   322 $1,330   $5,961,130 6
Dec 19, 1997 7 $935,000   -32% 480 $1,948   $0 8
Dec 21, 1997 10 $0   -100% 480 $0   $9,674,595 10
Dec 22, 1997 7 $568,266   +31% 480 $1,184   $10,242,861 11
Dec 23, 1997 8 $585,000 +3% +33% 480 $1,219   $10,818,000 12
Dec 24, 1997 6 $450,000 -23% +5% 480 $938   $11,289,000 13
Dec 25, 1997 10 $1,260,000 +180%   480 $2,625   $12,554,000 14
Jan 1, 1998 8 $1,585,000   +26% 712 $2,226   $22,211,000 21
Jan 2, 1998 10 $1,610,000 +2%   712 $2,261   $23,821,000 22
Jan 3, 1998 8 $1,820,000 +13%   712 $2,556   $25,641,000 23
Jan 4, 1998 7 $1,041,000 -43%   726 $1,434   $26,714,127 24
Jan 5, 1998 6 $359,896 -65%   726 $496   $27,074,023 25
Jan 6, 1998 6 $370,842 +3%   726 $511   $27,444,865 26
Jan 7, 1998 6 $333,470 -10%   726 $459   $27,778,315 27
Jan 8, 1998 6 $330,494 -1% -79% 726 $455   $28,109,829 28
Jan 9, 1998 10 $720,000 +118% -55% 773 $931   $28,830,000 29
Jan 10, 1998 10 $1,315,000 +83% -28% 773 $1,701   $30,150,000 30
Jan 11, 1998 10 $652,000 -50% -37% 773 $843   $30,797,832 31
Jan 12, 1998 9 $201,994 -69% -44% 773 $261   $30,999,826 32
Jan 13, 1998 9 $249,342 +23% -33% 773 $323   $31,249,158 33
Jan 14, 1998 8 $218,523 -12% -34% 773 $283   $31,467,690 34
Jan 15, 1998 9 $223,618 +2% -32% 773 $289   $31,691,308 35
Jan 16, 1998 10 $670,000 +200% -7% 1,001 $669   $32,361,000 36
Jan 17, 1998 10 $1,210,000 +81% -8% 1,001 $1,209   $33,571,000 37
Jan 18, 1998 10 $890,000 -26% +37% 1,001 $889   $34,461,000 38
Jan 19, 1998 11 $571,339 -36% +183% 1,001 $571   $35,032,339 39
Jan 20, 1998 10 $225,227 -61% -10% 1,001 $225   $35,257,566 40
Jan 21, 1998 9 $197,850 -12% -9% 1,001 $198   $35,455,416 41

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 12, 1997 4 $6,305,916   322 $19,584   $6,394,259 1
Dec 19, 1997 7 $6,197,890 -2% 480 $12,912   $12,592,149 2
Dec 26, 1997 10 $9,644,524 +56% 712 $13,546   $22,236,673 3
Jan 2, 1998 10 $5,873,156 -39% 726 $8,090   $28,109,829 4
Jan 9, 1998 10 $3,581,479 -39% 773 $4,633   $31,691,308 5
Jan 16, 1998 11 $3,963,401 +11% 1,001 $3,959   $35,654,709 6
Jan 23, 1998 11 $2,433,818 -39% 1,019 $2,388   $38,088,527 7
Jan 30, 1998 13 $1,813,406 -25% 908 $1,997   $39,901,933 8
Feb 6, 1998 15 $1,285,122 -29% 818 $1,571   $41,187,055 9
Feb 13, 1998 18 $1,006,687 -22% 801 $1,257   $42,193,742 10
Feb 20, 1998 18 $565,351 -44% 601 $941   $42,759,093 11
Feb 27, 1998 26 $348,439 -38% 401 $869   $43,107,532 12
Mar 6, 1998 40 $158,821 -54% 226 $703   $43,266,353 13
Mar 13, 1998 26 $455,736 +187% 570 $800   $43,722,089 14
Mar 20, 1998 28 $312,396 -31% 426 $733   $44,034,485 15
Mar 27, 1998 38 $113,254 -64% 317 $357   $44,147,739 16

International Cumulative Box Office Records


Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records