Per Theater Chart Hurting for New Releases

July 7, 2009

Only three films managed to reach the $10,000 mark on the per theater chart this week, and no new releases were able to top The Hurt Locker. That film led the way with an average or $14,578 in nine theaters, but it will need to strike fast if it wants to expand significantly. The Beaches of Agnes was the best of the new releases, opening with an average of $10,650 in two theaters. Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaurs opened with an average of $10,171, while the overall number one film, Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen, just missed the $10,000 market with an average of $9,995.

Most of the rest of the new releases struggled, but Kambakkht Ishq was an exception. It earned more than $750,000 in 100 theaters for an average of $7,685; however, given its target audience, quick declines from now on are likely. The Girl from Monaco opened with an average of $3,988 in 21 theaters, and that's as wide as that movie will go. Lion's Den opened with $3,484 in its only theater, which isn't terrible, but it will be hard to expand after that. I Hate Valentine's Day missed the Mendoza Line with an average of $1,670 in three theaters, while the return of Local Color was even worse with an average of $1,400 in four.

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

  • Cheri reached $1 million during its second weekend of release, but its per theater average is weak enough that further significant expansion seems unlikely.
  • Food, Inc. also reached $1 million since last week, but it has a shot at $2 million.
  • Whatever Works hit $1 million early in the weekend and has likely already reached $2 million, but there's little hope for further significant expansion, and that will make getting to $3 million and $4 million a lot harder.
  • Away We Go has made it all the way to $5 million, but it only has a very slim chance of reaching $10 million. Odds are this is the last major milestone for the film.

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Filed under: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, The Hurt Locker, Away We Go, Whatever Works, Food, Inc., Chéri, La fille de Monaco, Les plages d'Agnès, Local Color, Lion's Den, I Hate Valentine's Day