Specialty Box Office: Red State 'Winning' In The Big Apple

Weekend Box Office: March 4th through the 6th

Director Kevin Smith announced his plans for self-distributing his most recent film, Red State, at Sundance this year, and he delivered big this past Saturday. The film kicked off a U.S. tour of sneak previews this weekend to the tune of an astounding $161,590 on its way to filling up half of New York’s historic Radio City Music Hall. The horror film about teens looking for sex but instead finding religion is set to officially debut in October, but until then, “State” will preview in fourteen more theaters before ending its sneak peak tour in Los Angeles.

It was a big weekend for foreign films such as Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives that picked up a promising $8,036 average in three locations. “Boonmee” is a drama from Thailand and took home last year’s Best Foreign Language Film award from the Toronto Film Critics Association and of course, won the top prize in Cannes. Distributor Strand Releasing was no doubt happy with the weekend’s positive numbers from the offbeat, critically acclaimed film that doesn’t scream financially viable.

U.S Indie:
Happythankyoumoreplease, winner of the Audience Award in the Dramatic category at Sundance last year, finally debuted this past weekend. Anchor Bay released the film in only two locations but grossed $30,000 in the major markets. Josh Radnor wrote, directed, and starred in the film, but Radnor is probably best known for a recurring role on TV’s “How I Met Your Mother.”

After fourteen weeks on the charts, “Black Swan” declined 24.7% but still managed to put another $1 million in the bank. Darren Aronofsky’s film has grossed $105 million to date and is Fox Searchlight’s third highest grossing film of all time (behind only “Juno” and “Slumdog Millionaire.”)

“Cedar Rapids” expanded to 235 locations in its fourth weekend and saw its average slip from around $5,000 last week to $3,468 this weekend. The low-budget comedy from Fox Searchlight has grossed over $3 million so far with an average worthy of a few more weekends and a couple hundred more theaters.

One film failing to expand in its second weekend was Samuel Goldwyn Films’ “The Grace Card.” The drama from director David G. Evans declined 47.5% on its way to a dismal $1,506 average. “Card” can be seen in 352 locations but will unlikely expand to more screens.

World Cinema:
“The King’s Speech” withdrew from 140 locations but is still managing to be viable in its fifteenth week. The $15 million production now boasts a $123 million total gross at the box office and has made The Weinstein Company one very happy distributor. With only 11% decline, “Speech” still manages from week to week to be a top ten box office performer.

Two foreign films that have played surprisingly well domestically are “Of Gods and Men” and “Biutiful.” “Men” has a $6,867 average in 42 locations after expanding this past weekend and looks to be a promising hit for distributor Sony Pictures Classics. “Biutiful” is in its sixth weekend but has already grossed over $4 million for Roadside Attractions on its way to becoming an unlikely overachiever following the film’s loss in the Best Foreign Film category at this year’s Oscars. Both have so far played well in the states with plenty of room to expand for “Men.”

Specialty Box Office Top 5

Box Office Top 10

Next Weekend:
Kill the Irishman, Elektra Luxx, Jane Eyre, Black Death, Red Riding Hood, Battle: Los Angeles, Mars Needs Moms

QUICK LINKS

Red State,  HappyThankYouMorePlease,  Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives,