Blade Runner Controls the Per Theater Chart

October 16, 2007

Blade Runner climbed into first place on the Per Theater Chart with an average of $32,681 in two theaters during its second week of re-release. Control debuted in second place with $27,674 in its one theater. Lars and the Real Girl opened with just over $90,000 in 7 theaters for an average of $12,917. This is a good start, better than most limited releases can hope for, but less than I was expecting. The Darjeeling Limited continues to perform marvelously as it expands as it earned an average of $11,425 in nearly 100 theaters. The overall box office leader, Why Did I Get Married? opened with an average of $10,618.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa was the best of the rest, earning over $500,000 in 55 theaters for an average of $9,309. Canvas opened well with an average of $6,550 in two theaters while Journey of a Woman also did well with an average of $5,350 in 60. Sleuth missed expectations with an average of $5,141, which doesn't bode well for any serious expansion. Terror's Advocate and Naked Boys Singing opened with nearly identical averages, $3,732 vs. $3,690. Finally, Passage to Zarahemla opened with under $60,000 in 28 theaters for an average of just $2,071.

This past week also saw milestones reached for a few Per Theater Chart alumni:

• Lust, Caution hit $1 million over the weekend and with a per theater average that is healthy enough to suggest further expansion, it should reach a few more milestones with ease.
• On the other hand, while Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure also made $1 million over the weekend, it will likely shed theaters rather briskly and it won't get much beyond $2 million, if it even reaches that milestone.
• Likewise, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford topped $1 million very early in the weekend, but it has clearly peaked at the box office making each additional milestone that much harder to reach.
• The Darjeeling Limited reached $1 million during the week and $2 million over the weekend. At this point it is hard to say where it will end up, but it is safe to say it's run is far from over.
• Jane Austen's Book Club topped $3 million over the weekend, barely, but that's likely as far as it will go.
• Into the Wild managed $3 million before the weekend and almost hit $4 million by the end of the weekend. Additionally, its per theater average is still strong and it could expand further.
• Ladron Que Roba a Ladron made it to $4 million, but that's as far as it will go. Still, this is a good showing for a foreign language film.
• Across the Universe topped $10 million this weekend, and it isn't done yet.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: Why Did I Get Married?, Across the Universe, Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure, Into the Wild, The Darjeeling Limited, Lars and the Real Girl, Se jie, Ladron que roba a ladron, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Jane Austen Book Club, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Control, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Sleuth, Passage to Zarahemla, L'avocat de la terreur, Canvas, Naked Boys Singing