Theater counts: Super Mario still on a roll as the widest release of the week

April 27, 2023

No other film released in the past few weeks has been able to slow down Mario and friends as the legendary video game characters once again top the list of widest releases this week, and still the only movie to be showing in over 4,000 cinemas—in 4,204 of them to be exact. The film has racked up just over $447 million in domestic earnings at latest count. Next week will end Mario’s reign at the top with the opening of the most recent Guardians of the Galaxy feature, but this week the animated juggernaut will enjoy one last week as the most widely-available film in North America.

New this week is a broad variety of films for nearly every movie taste. The widest of these newcomers is the coming-of-age comedy-drama, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Beginning its theatrical run in 3,343 venues, the film stars Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Abby Ryder Fortson, and is based on Judy Blume’s classic 1970 book of the same name. The author has praised the movie as even better than the book.

Arriving for the first time to theaters is the boxing dramatization, Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World. Debuting in 3,054 locations, the film charts the life of the powerful and legendary pugilist, George Foreman and his historic return to the ring, becoming the oldest and most improbable World Heavyweight Champion in history.

Making its entrance in 1,006 movie houses this week is the Finnish historical action-thriller, Sisu. Facing overwhelming odds, a prospector whose gold was recently stolen by Nazis, is determined to get what is his, even if it means killing every last Nazi in his path. Sisu stars Jorma Tommila and is directed by Jalmari Helander.

Lastly, making its way into 927 theaters is the latest from Universal Pictures in Polite Society. The feature follows martial artist-in-training Ria Khan who believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage.

Rounding out the top five is the second widest release of the week in Evil Dead Rise, adding 15 theaters for a total of 3,417, and occupying the fifth place spot is Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, going from 2,960 locations last week, to 2,709 this week.

Looking ahead to next week we see the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The film, which looks to add substantial numbers to the franchise’s $1.64 billion worldwide box office is expected to begin its theatrical run in about 4,300 locations. Guardians however isn't the only film opening next week. The romantic comedy, Love Again will make its debut in a projected 2,800 movie houses.

Theater Counts for April 28

Theater Counts for May 5

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Evil Dead, Dungeons & Dragons, Guardians of the Galaxy, Kathy Bates, George Foreman, Rachel McAdams, Jorma Tommila, Jalmari Helander, Judy Blume, Abby Ryder Fortson