The Great Debaters (2007)

Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $30,226,144Details
International Box Office $35,149
Worldwide Box Office $30,261,293
Domestic Physical Disc Sales
DVD Sales (estimated) $26,027,615
Total $26,027,615
OpusData ID: 18640100 More info...
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$6,005,180 (19.9% of total gross)
Legs:5.03 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:99.9% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$15,000,000 (worldwide box office is 2.0 times production budget)
Theater counts:1,171 opening theaters/1,290 max. theaters, 4.7 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $51,415,992

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: December 25th, 2007 (Wide) by Weinstein Co.
Video Release: May 13th, 2008 by Weinstein Co./Genius
MPA Rating: PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality
Running Time: 123 minutes
Plot point: African Americans, Biography, Inspirational Teacher, Intellectual Pursuits, Unions
Social setting: College
Subgenre: Biographical Drama
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Dramatization
Production/Financing Companies: Harpo Films
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 28, 2007 11 $6,005,180   1,171 $5,128   $13,256,188 1
Jan 4, 2008 12 $4,250,948 -29% 1,290 $3,295   $22,013,765 2
Jan 11, 2008 15 $2,345,375 -45% 1,290 $1,818   $25,633,630 3
Jan 18, 2008 18 $1,348,191 -43% 1,021 $1,320   $27,787,656 4
Jan 25, 2008 26 $538,974 -60% 390 $1,382   $29,086,170 5
Feb 1, 2008 35 $257,635 -52% 264 $976   $29,536,943 6
Feb 8, 2008 41 $138,497 -46% 156 $888   $29,782,255 7
Feb 15, 2008 45 $92,327 -33% 105 $879   $29,940,739 8
Feb 22, 2008 60 $40,766 -56% 75 $544   $30,028,691 9
Feb 29, 2008 68 $25,012 -39% 47 $532   $30,073,532 10
Mar 7, 2008 70 $14,419 -42% 34 $424   $30,098,269 11
Mar 14, 2008 84 $8,134 -44% 20 $407   $30,113,634 12
Mar 21, 2008 55 $40,237 +395% 113 $356   $30,157,871 13
Mar 28, 2008 71 $17,673 -56% 40 $442   $30,203,433 14
Apr 4, 2008 89 $7,213 -59% 24 $301   $30,219,326 15
Apr 11, 2008 106 $3,484 -52% 8 $436   $30,226,144 16

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
Dec 25, 2007 6 $3,604,000     1,164 $3,096   $3,604,000 1
Dec 26, 2007 10 $2,040,000 -43%   1,164 $1,753   $5,644,000 2
Dec 27, 2007 11 $1,570,000 -23%   1,164 $1,349   $7,251,008 3
Dec 28, 2007 11 $1,989,184 +27%   1,164 $1,709   $9,240,192 4
Dec 29, 2007 10 $2,314,431 +16%   1,171 $1,976   $11,554,623 5
Dec 30, 2007 11 $1,701,565 -26%   1,171 $1,453   $13,256,188 6
Dec 31, 2007 9 $1,436,103 -16%   1,171 $1,226   $14,692,291 7
Jan 1, 2008 11 $1,742,739 +21% -52% 1,171 $1,488   $16,435,030 8
Jan 2, 2008 12 $703,832 -60% -65% 1,171 $601   $17,138,862 9
Jan 3, 2008 12 $623,955 -11% -60% 1,171 $533   $17,762,817 10
Jan 4, 2008 12 $1,323,934 +112% -33% 1,290 $1,026   $19,086,751 11
Jan 7, 2008 12 $291,293   -80% 1,290 $226   $22,305,058 14
Jan 8, 2008 11 $323,777 +11% -81% 1,290 $251   $22,628,835 15
Jan 9, 2008 11 $324,012 n/c -54% 1,290 $251   $22,952,847 16
Jan 10, 2008 11 $335,408 +4% -46% 1,290 $260   $23,288,255 17
Jan 16, 2008 12 $194,644   -40% 1,290 $151   $26,201,565 23
Jan 17, 2008 12 $237,900 +22% -29% 1,290 $184   $26,439,465 24
Jan 21, 2008 17 $421,099     1,021 $412   $28,208,755 28
Feb 18, 2008 43 $21,079     105 $201   $29,961,818 56

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 21, 2007 13 $7,244,000   1,164 $6,223   $7,244,000 1
Dec 28, 2007 11 $10,511,809 +45% 1,171 $8,977   $17,762,817 2
Jan 4, 2008 12 $5,525,438 -47% 1,290 $4,283   $23,288,255 3
Jan 11, 2008 15 $3,151,210 -43% 1,290 $2,443   $26,439,465 4
Jan 18, 2008 19 $2,107,731 -33% 1,021 $2,064   $28,547,196 5
Jan 25, 2008 26 $732,112 -65% 390 $1,877   $29,279,308 6
Feb 1, 2008 34 $364,450 -50% 264 $1,380   $29,643,758 7
Feb 8, 2008 44 $204,654 -44% 156 $1,312   $29,848,412 8
Feb 15, 2008 45 $139,513 -32% 105 $1,329   $29,987,925 9
Feb 22, 2008 60 $60,595 -57% 75 $808   $30,048,520 10
Feb 29, 2008 70 $35,330 -42% 47 $752   $30,083,850 11
Mar 7, 2008 72 $21,650 -39% 34 $637   $30,105,500 12
Mar 14, 2008 84 $12,134 -44% 20 $607   $30,117,634 13
Mar 21, 2008 53 $68,126 +461% 113 $603   $30,185,760 14
Mar 28, 2008 70 $26,353 -61% 40 $659   $30,212,113 15
Apr 4, 2008 86 $10,547 -60% 24 $439   $30,222,660 16
Apr 11, 2008 109 $3,484 -67% 8 $436   $30,226,144 17

Leading

Denzel Washington    Melvin B. Tolson
Forest Whitaker    James Farmer Sr.

Supporting

Nate Parker    Henry Lowe
Jurnee Smollett    Samantha Booke
Denzel Whitaker    James Farmer Jr.
John Heard    Sheriff Dozier
Kimberly Elise    Pearl Farmer
Jermaine Williams    Hamilton Burgess
Gina Ravera    Ruth Tolson
Devyn Tyler    Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd    Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery    Deputy
Jackson Walker    Pig Owner
Tim Parati    Pig Farmer
Robert X. Golphin    Dunbar Reed
Justice Leak    Harland Osbourne
Glen Powell, Jr.    Harvard Debater
Bard Watkins    Harvard Debater
Brian Smiar    Harvard Dean
Damian Leake    Wilson
Voltaire Rico Sterling    Paul Quinn Debater
Stephen Rider    Paul Quinn Debater
Gordon Danniels    Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz    Oklahoma City College Debater
Sam Whisnant    Oklahoma City College Debater
Bonnie Johnson    Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen    Benita
Michael Beasley    Trudell
Gary Mathis    Enormous Man
George Wilson    Samuel
Fahnlohnee Harris    Clementine
Harold X. Evans    William Taylor
J.D. Evermore    Captain Wainwright
Sharon Jones    Lila
Kelvin Payton    Joseph
Southey Blanton    White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison    White Sharecropper
Jeff Braun    White Sharecropper
Milton R. Gipson    Prairie View Professor
Frank Ridley    Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel    Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate
Jack Radosta    White Man at Lynching
Marcus Lyle Brown    Howard Debater
Alvin "Youngblood" Hart*    Juke Joint Musician
Dominique Flemons    Juke Joint Musician
Justin Robinson    Juke Joint Musician
Rhiannon Giddens    Juke Joint Musician
Ahmad Powell    Fish Professor

Production and Technical Credits

Denzel Washington    Director
Robert Eisele    Screenwriter
Robert Eisele    Story Creator
Jeffrey Porro    Story Creator
Todd Black    Producer
Kate Forte    Producer
Oprah Winfrey    Producer
Joe Roth    Producer
Bob Weinstein    Executive Producer
Harvey Weinstein    Executive Producer
David Crockett    Executive Producer
Philippe Rousselot    Director of Photography
David J. Bomba    Production Designer
Hughes Winborne    Editor
Sharon Davis    Costume Designer
James Newton Howard    Composer
Peter Golub    Composer
G. Marq Roswell    Music Supervisor
Molly Allen    Co-Producer
Denise Chamian    Casting Director
Jono Oliver    Assistant Director
David Crockett    Unit Production Manager
Valerie Bleth Sharp    Production Supervisor
Jeff Valeri    Production Supervisor
John R Jensen    Art Director
Patrick Cassidy    Set Decorator
Dana Hart    Costume Supervisor
Geraud Brisson    Additional Editor
John Breinholt    Co-Editor
Willie D. Burton    Sound Mixer
Tateum Kohut    Re-recording Mixer
Greg Orloff    Re-recording Mixer
Rick Kline    Re-recording Mixer
Kami Asgar    Supervising Sound Editor
Sean McCormack    Supervising Sound Editor
Jon Wakeham    Sound Effects Editor
John Marquis    Sound Effects Editor
Herwig Maurer    Sound Effects Editor
Tim Tuchrello    Sound Effects Editor
Dorian Cheah    Sound Designer
Scott G.G. Haller    Dialogue Editor
Todd Kasow    Music Editor
Carl Fullerton    Make up
Matiki Anoff    Make up
Ken Walker    Hairstylist
Larry Cherry    Hairstylist
Gregory Nicotero    Special Make-up Effects
Howard Berger    Special Make-up Effects
Tracy Kilpatrick    Additional Casting
Carolyn Pickman    Additional Casting
Stephen Pope    Stunt Coordinator
Stephen Ruizi    Stunt Coordinator
Jacob Riehle    Assistant Sound Editor

Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.

Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.


Metrics

Opening Weekend:$6,005,180 (19.9% of total gross)
Legs:5.03 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:99.9% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$15,000,000 (worldwide box office is 2.0 times production budget)
Theater counts:1,171 opening theaters/1,290 max. theaters, 4.7 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $51,415,992

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: December 25th, 2007 (Wide) by Weinstein Co.
Video Release: May 13th, 2008 by Weinstein Co./Genius
MPA Rating: PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality
Running Time: 123 minutes
Plot point: African Americans, Biography, Inspirational Teacher, Intellectual Pursuits, Unions
Social setting: College
Subgenre: Biographical Drama
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Dramatization
Production/Financing Companies: Harpo Films
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 28, 2007 11 $6,005,180   1,171 $5,128   $13,256,188 1
Jan 4, 2008 12 $4,250,948 -29% 1,290 $3,295   $22,013,765 2
Jan 11, 2008 15 $2,345,375 -45% 1,290 $1,818   $25,633,630 3
Jan 18, 2008 18 $1,348,191 -43% 1,021 $1,320   $27,787,656 4
Jan 25, 2008 26 $538,974 -60% 390 $1,382   $29,086,170 5
Feb 1, 2008 35 $257,635 -52% 264 $976   $29,536,943 6
Feb 8, 2008 41 $138,497 -46% 156 $888   $29,782,255 7
Feb 15, 2008 45 $92,327 -33% 105 $879   $29,940,739 8
Feb 22, 2008 60 $40,766 -56% 75 $544   $30,028,691 9
Feb 29, 2008 68 $25,012 -39% 47 $532   $30,073,532 10
Mar 7, 2008 70 $14,419 -42% 34 $424   $30,098,269 11
Mar 14, 2008 84 $8,134 -44% 20 $407   $30,113,634 12
Mar 21, 2008 55 $40,237 +395% 113 $356   $30,157,871 13
Mar 28, 2008 71 $17,673 -56% 40 $442   $30,203,433 14
Apr 4, 2008 89 $7,213 -59% 24 $301   $30,219,326 15
Apr 11, 2008 106 $3,484 -52% 8 $436   $30,226,144 16

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
Dec 25, 2007 6 $3,604,000     1,164 $3,096   $3,604,000 1
Dec 26, 2007 10 $2,040,000 -43%   1,164 $1,753   $5,644,000 2
Dec 27, 2007 11 $1,570,000 -23%   1,164 $1,349   $7,251,008 3
Dec 28, 2007 11 $1,989,184 +27%   1,164 $1,709   $9,240,192 4
Dec 29, 2007 10 $2,314,431 +16%   1,171 $1,976   $11,554,623 5
Dec 30, 2007 11 $1,701,565 -26%   1,171 $1,453   $13,256,188 6
Dec 31, 2007 9 $1,436,103 -16%   1,171 $1,226   $14,692,291 7
Jan 1, 2008 11 $1,742,739 +21% -52% 1,171 $1,488   $16,435,030 8
Jan 2, 2008 12 $703,832 -60% -65% 1,171 $601   $17,138,862 9
Jan 3, 2008 12 $623,955 -11% -60% 1,171 $533   $17,762,817 10
Jan 4, 2008 12 $1,323,934 +112% -33% 1,290 $1,026   $19,086,751 11
Jan 7, 2008 12 $291,293   -80% 1,290 $226   $22,305,058 14
Jan 8, 2008 11 $323,777 +11% -81% 1,290 $251   $22,628,835 15
Jan 9, 2008 11 $324,012 n/c -54% 1,290 $251   $22,952,847 16
Jan 10, 2008 11 $335,408 +4% -46% 1,290 $260   $23,288,255 17
Jan 16, 2008 12 $194,644   -40% 1,290 $151   $26,201,565 23
Jan 17, 2008 12 $237,900 +22% -29% 1,290 $184   $26,439,465 24
Jan 21, 2008 17 $421,099     1,021 $412   $28,208,755 28
Feb 18, 2008 43 $21,079     105 $201   $29,961,818 56

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 21, 2007 13 $7,244,000   1,164 $6,223   $7,244,000 1
Dec 28, 2007 11 $10,511,809 +45% 1,171 $8,977   $17,762,817 2
Jan 4, 2008 12 $5,525,438 -47% 1,290 $4,283   $23,288,255 3
Jan 11, 2008 15 $3,151,210 -43% 1,290 $2,443   $26,439,465 4
Jan 18, 2008 19 $2,107,731 -33% 1,021 $2,064   $28,547,196 5
Jan 25, 2008 26 $732,112 -65% 390 $1,877   $29,279,308 6
Feb 1, 2008 34 $364,450 -50% 264 $1,380   $29,643,758 7
Feb 8, 2008 44 $204,654 -44% 156 $1,312   $29,848,412 8
Feb 15, 2008 45 $139,513 -32% 105 $1,329   $29,987,925 9
Feb 22, 2008 60 $60,595 -57% 75 $808   $30,048,520 10
Feb 29, 2008 70 $35,330 -42% 47 $752   $30,083,850 11
Mar 7, 2008 72 $21,650 -39% 34 $637   $30,105,500 12
Mar 14, 2008 84 $12,134 -44% 20 $607   $30,117,634 13
Mar 21, 2008 53 $68,126 +461% 113 $603   $30,185,760 14
Mar 28, 2008 70 $26,353 -61% 40 $659   $30,212,113 15
Apr 4, 2008 86 $10,547 -60% 24 $439   $30,222,660 16
Apr 11, 2008 109 $3,484 -67% 8 $436   $30,226,144 17

Leading

Denzel Washington    Melvin B. Tolson
Forest Whitaker    James Farmer Sr.

Supporting

Nate Parker    Henry Lowe
Jurnee Smollett    Samantha Booke
Denzel Whitaker    James Farmer Jr.
John Heard    Sheriff Dozier
Kimberly Elise    Pearl Farmer
Jermaine Williams    Hamilton Burgess
Gina Ravera    Ruth Tolson
Devyn Tyler    Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd    Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery    Deputy
Jackson Walker    Pig Owner
Tim Parati    Pig Farmer
Robert X. Golphin    Dunbar Reed
Justice Leak    Harland Osbourne
Glen Powell, Jr.    Harvard Debater
Bard Watkins    Harvard Debater
Brian Smiar    Harvard Dean
Damian Leake    Wilson
Voltaire Rico Sterling    Paul Quinn Debater
Stephen Rider    Paul Quinn Debater
Gordon Danniels    Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz    Oklahoma City College Debater
Sam Whisnant    Oklahoma City College Debater
Bonnie Johnson    Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen    Benita
Michael Beasley    Trudell
Gary Mathis    Enormous Man
George Wilson    Samuel
Fahnlohnee Harris    Clementine
Harold X. Evans    William Taylor
J.D. Evermore    Captain Wainwright
Sharon Jones    Lila
Kelvin Payton    Joseph
Southey Blanton    White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison    White Sharecropper
Jeff Braun    White Sharecropper
Milton R. Gipson    Prairie View Professor
Frank Ridley    Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel    Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate
Jack Radosta    White Man at Lynching
Marcus Lyle Brown    Howard Debater
Alvin "Youngblood" Hart*    Juke Joint Musician
Dominique Flemons    Juke Joint Musician
Justin Robinson    Juke Joint Musician
Rhiannon Giddens    Juke Joint Musician
Ahmad Powell    Fish Professor

Production and Technical Credits

Denzel Washington    Director
Robert Eisele    Screenwriter
Robert Eisele    Story Creator
Jeffrey Porro    Story Creator
Todd Black    Producer
Kate Forte    Producer
Oprah Winfrey    Producer
Joe Roth    Producer
Bob Weinstein    Executive Producer
Harvey Weinstein    Executive Producer
David Crockett    Executive Producer
Philippe Rousselot    Director of Photography
David J. Bomba    Production Designer
Hughes Winborne    Editor
Sharon Davis    Costume Designer
James Newton Howard    Composer
Peter Golub    Composer
G. Marq Roswell    Music Supervisor
Molly Allen    Co-Producer
Denise Chamian    Casting Director
Jono Oliver    Assistant Director
David Crockett    Unit Production Manager
Valerie Bleth Sharp    Production Supervisor
Jeff Valeri    Production Supervisor
John R Jensen    Art Director
Patrick Cassidy    Set Decorator
Dana Hart    Costume Supervisor
Geraud Brisson    Additional Editor
John Breinholt    Co-Editor
Willie D. Burton    Sound Mixer
Tateum Kohut    Re-recording Mixer
Greg Orloff    Re-recording Mixer
Rick Kline    Re-recording Mixer
Kami Asgar    Supervising Sound Editor
Sean McCormack    Supervising Sound Editor
Jon Wakeham    Sound Effects Editor
John Marquis    Sound Effects Editor
Herwig Maurer    Sound Effects Editor
Tim Tuchrello    Sound Effects Editor
Dorian Cheah    Sound Designer
Scott G.G. Haller    Dialogue Editor
Todd Kasow    Music Editor
Carl Fullerton    Make up
Matiki Anoff    Make up
Ken Walker    Hairstylist
Larry Cherry    Hairstylist
Gregory Nicotero    Special Make-up Effects
Howard Berger    Special Make-up Effects
Tracy Kilpatrick    Additional Casting
Carolyn Pickman    Additional Casting
Stephen Pope    Stunt Coordinator
Stephen Ruizi    Stunt Coordinator
Jacob Riehle    Assistant Sound Editor

Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.

Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.