Family Features Rule Theaters

November 10, 2005

With the Holiday Season fast approaching, it's no surprise that movie theaters are full to bursting with family features. The extent to which they dominate is demonstrated by this weekend's theater counts. Chicken Little remains the widest release, adding a handful of theaters this weekend to play in 3,658. Jumanji sequel Zathura is the widest new release, opening in a healthy 3,223 venues. Meanwhile, Legend of Zorro clings on to third, although it loses 467 theaters, to play in just over 3,000 this weekend. All these movies will be looking to earn money quickly, before Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire hits theaters next weekend.

Further down the chart, Weinstein Co. makes its debut with the release of Derailed. They'll settle for a solid, but not spectacular opening, launching in 2,441 movie houses.

RankMovieTheatersChangeWeeks in
Release		Distributor
1Chicken Little3,658+42Buena Vista
2Zathura3,223New1Sony
3Legend of Zorro3,053-4673Sony
4Saw II2,949n/c3Lions Gate
5Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story2,735+1184Dreamworks
6Jarhead2,445+342Universal
7Derailed2,441New1Weinstein Co.
8Prime1,780-573Universal
9Get Rich or Die Tryin'1,652New1Paramount
10Weather Man, The1,250-2603Paramount
22Pride and Prejudice (2005)215New1Focus
40Bee Season21New1Fox Searchlight
42Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic7New1Roadside Attraction
43Ellie Parker6New1Strand
46Cape of Good Hope2New1Artistic License
48Duane Hopwood1New1IFC Films
49Good Morning, Night1New1Wellspring
50Comedians of Comedy, The1New1Vitagraph Films
51Pulse (2005)1New1Magnolia

Estimated Theater Counts for Next Week's Openers

MovieTheatersDistributor
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire3,800Warner Bros.
Walk the Line2,900Fox
Aryan Couple, The25Slowhand Releasing
Private1Typecast Releasing
Unveiled1Wolfe Releasing
Classe Tous Risques1Rialto
Zizek!1Zeitgeist
Blackmail Boy1Picture This! Entertainment
Breakfast on Pluto1Sony Classics

See the full theater count chart