Per Theatre Chart addicted to Smoking

March 21, 2006

Thank You for Smoking was the only film to top the $10,000 per theatre average this weekend. It blew away the competition with just over $260,000 in 5 theatres for an average of $52,585.

It was a very busy weekend for limited released but no other film's per theatre average came close to $10,000. The second best limited release was Don't Come Knocking with an average of $5,105 in six theatres. There were also a few limited releases that debuted with averages above $3,000 (Church Ball, Take My Eyes, Don't Trip...), even more between $2,000 and $3,000 (Don't Tell, Devil's Miner, Summer Storm, and Zodiac). Still further down the charts were Mirage with $1,511, Beyond Honor with $557 in two theatres and finally The Big Question with a tiny $466.

When a dozen films come out in limited release, you naturally expect at least a few to slip between the cracks. But even so, it was a particularly brutal weekend for smaller films, with one real success and one other moderate debut.

It wasn't quite as busy when it came to milestones, but there were still several Theatre Charts alumni here as well.

  • After a fast start, Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story fell pretty far pretty fast. The nature of the film doesn't really lend itself to mainstream success, and the home market is where films such as this generate the most business.
  • Why We Fight reached its first, and last milestone ($1 million). It should also do better on the home market.
  • Neil Young: Heart of Gold topped $1 million early in the weekend, which is not a bad result for a concert film.
  • Hidden hit $3 million midweek, but its chances of reaching $4 million depend heavily on how well it hangs onto its theatre count from now on.
  • The World's Fastest Indian made it to $3 million early midweek and will have no trouble reaching $4 million before long.

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Filed under: Thank You For Smoking, The World's Fastest Indian, Caché, Why We Fight, Neil Young: Heart of Gold, Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, Don’t Come Knocking, Sommersturm, The Zodiac, Te doy mis ojos, The Big Question