Theater counts: Super Mario once again widest release as four new features arrive in theaters

April 20, 2023

Currently enjoying a 15-day domestic haul of over $371 million, The Super Mario Bros. Movie again stands alone as this week’s widest release. Last weekend, the film scored the best second weekend ever for an animated movie. Only dropping 21 cinemas this week, the blockbuster film is still widely available in 4,350 locations. While Mario shouldn’t have any problems leading the box office, like last week, it contends with a flurry of newcomers making their big screen debuts.

The largest of the new wide releases is the supernatural horror, Evil Dead Rise. Starting its run in 3,402 movie houses, the fifth installment in the Evil Dead franchise follows two estranged sisters attempting to save their family from demonic creatures. The Warner Bros. film is directed by Lee Cronin and stars Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan as sisters, Ellie and Beth.

Also making its theatrical debut is Afghanistan War thriller, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant. Releasing in 2,611 movie houses, the film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a U.S. Army Sergeant who, after having his life saved by his interpreter Ahmed (played by Dar Salim), must repay his debt by helping the latter achieve safe passage to the United States. Guy Ritchie directs and produces from his own screenplay, along with Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies.

Making its theatrical debut in 1,275 venues this week is period dramatization Chevalier. The film is a telling of the true story of composer, Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner. Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as the title character and is joined by Samara Weaving and Lucy Boynton, with the latter portraying Marie Antoinette.

Lastly, arriving just over the wide release threshold with 602 locations comes the comedy-drama, Somewhere in Queens. The movie stars actor-comedian Ray Romano and Laurie Metcalf as a New York couple who are determined to keep their son on a bright path after unexpected events attempt to derail him from his future plans.

Rounding out the top five this week is one of last week’s newcomers in Renfield as the Dracula movie adds three locations this week for a total of 3,378 cinemas. Coming in just behind Renfield in the third-widest release spot is The Pope’s Exorcist, keeping its opening count from last week of 3,178 theaters, and finally, occupying 2,960 venues this week, is Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Looking ahead to next week we see the debut of three more wide releases in the coming-of-age comedy-drama, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. The film starring Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson and Kathy Bates is based on the 1970 novel of the same name by author Judy Blume and will be available in approximately 3,000 theaters. Also opening in about 3,000 cinemas next week is Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World. Lastly, the Finnish historical action film, Sisu makes its way into a projected 900 North American theaters. Worthy of mention is the re-release of Star Wars Ep IV: The Return of the Jedi in 475 locations.

Theater Counts for April 21

Theater Counts for April 28

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Evil Dead, Kathy Bates, George Foreman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Laurie Metcalf, Guy Ritchie, Ray Romano, Dar Salim, Judy Blume, Lucy Boynton, Lily Sullivan, Abby Ryder Fortson, Samara Weaving, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies, Lee Cronin, Alyssa Sutherland