Per Theater Chart: Iron is Worth Its Weight In Gold

January 4, 2012

Iron Lady led a group of six films in the $10,000 earning a per theater average of $55,102. This is better than expected and shows the Oscar buzz for Meryl Streep is overcoming the middling overall reviews. Last week's winner, Pina, remained strong with an average of $23,874 in three theaters. I expect it will expand somewhat and earn a small measure of mainstream success. A Separation opened with an average of $19,827 in three theaters and with possible Oscar glory, it continues to do well. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has already earned a significant measure of mainstream success and with an average of $19,043 in 55 theaters this past weekend, it had its best weekend yet. It did cost $21 million to make, so it will need to continue to do well for quite some time before it makes profitability likely. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close's first full weekend went well earning an average of $18,463 in three theaters. It has a shot at expanding wide in a couple weeks, assuming it holds on relatively well over the next couple weeks. The final film in the $10,000 club was Pariah, which earned an average of $12,145 in four theaters. It earned just over $100,000 from Wednesday through Monday.

The only other new limited releases we have numbers for was Angels Crest, which only managed $407 in its lone theater.

This past two weeks also saw milestones reached for several Per Theater Chart alumni:

• A Dangerous Method got to $1 million last weekend, while it is already more than halfway to $2 million.
• As expected, Shame topped $2 million, but it won't go any farther.
• The Skin I Live In just managed to reach $3 million late last weekend and it too is done with major milestones.
• Don 2 opened with more than $1 million last weekend, it surpassed $2 million by Monday, and this weekend it reached $3 million. It likely won't make it to $4 million, but this is a great run for a Bollywood film.
• The Way has ridden long legs all the way to $4 million, but it appears its journey is practically over.
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy also made it to $4 million this weekend, but it should have no trouble getting to $5 million soon. In fact, $10 million and beyond isn't out of the question.
• The Artist did hit $5 million since last time and it is doing well enough during Awards Season that $10 million is a reasonable goal.
• The Descendants made it all the way to $40 million, if you include the holiday Monday. It is about to overtake The Ides of March on the yearly chart.

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Theater Averages, Pariah, The Descendants, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Iron Lady, Shame, The Way, La piel que habito, Pina, A Dangerous Method, Don 2, The Ides of March, Pariah, Jodaeiye Nader az Simin, The Artist, Angels Crest