Specialty Box Office: “Speech” Still Strong and “Cold Weather” Hits

Weekend Box Office: February 4th through the 6th

IFC released Cold Weather in one NYC location but saw a promising $14,513 return this Super Bowl weekend. “Weather” is a pickup from last year’s SXSW Film Festival and centers around a former forensic scientist who returns home to Portland to find an ex-girlfriend missing. Writer/director Aaron Katz is no stranger to Independent filmmaking and was nominated at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards for his film “Quiet City.”

The only other debut of note was another IFC release, The Other Woman. “Woman” stars Natalie Portman as a stepmother struggling to connect with her stepson. The film was released a month ago on VOD and has seen some success due to Portman’s recent award season buzz. It failed, however, this weekend to take hold in its theatrical debut with a $3,112 average in two locations.

U.S Indie:
In its fourth week, “Barney’s Version” managed to hold on with a decent $4,534 average in 45 locations. The Sony Pictures Classics’ release will, however, need to worry about the 15.1% decline in weekly grosses despite a six theater expansion. Look for “Version” to break the $1 million mark domestically next week but see some future roadblocks in terms of grossing any big numbers.

“Blue Valentine” posted a dismal $1,748 average this past weekend but still managed to gross $786,441 in its sixth week. Michelle Williams received an Oscar nomination for her performance, but the overall slump this weekend in box office receipts undoubtedly hit the film’s numbers hard.

One film that has definitely weathered recent overall box office slumps is Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan.” In its tenth weekend, the drama is holding steady with a $1,707 average and well on its way to breaking the $100 million threshold. Fox Searchlight’s impressive expansion strategy combined with numerous award nominations for the film has positioned this over-achieving powerhouse for reaching even greater heights.

World Cinema:
The biggest story is still “The King’s Speech,” and its recent stay in the box office top five. With a $2,985 average that is allowing “Speech” to quickly gain ground in overtaking “Black Swan” in terms of total gross, Tom Hooper’s critically-acclaimed box office smash is continuing to make waves even in its eleventh week.

Despite a crowded specialty market, Roadside Attraction’s “Biutiful” made a rather smooth transition in its sophomore weekend as it not only expanded to 179 theaters but also grossed a promising $641,647 figure. The name “Javier Bardem” clearly has provided some much needed punch behind the foreign film’s domestic release.

Sony Classics’ “The Illusionist” is only picking up steam in its seventh week following additional buzz surrounding the film’s unlikely Oscar nomination. The animated film picked up an extra $186,668 after expanding to 68 locations.

Specialty Box Office Top 5

Box Office Top 10

Next Weekend:
Cedar Rapids, Lovers of Hate, The Eagle, Just Go With It, Gnomeo and Juliet