Specialty Box Office: “Barney’s Version” Makes Mountains Out Of Globe-hills

Weekend Box Office: January 14th to January 16th

While the Golden Globes aren’t exactly known as being the Mecca of critical genius, the Best Actor for a Comedy or Musical Award went to Paul Giamatti for Barney’s Version, beating out Johnny Depp, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Kevin Spacey. “Version” ran for a short awards qualifying run in December but was officially released this past weekend by Sony Pictures Classics. The adult comedy grossed a promising $16,310 average in just four locations and could slowly find a niche audience in a specialty market dominated by dramas. While Giamatti is a long shot in garnering a Best Actor nomination next week from the Academy, some much needed attention has already been given to “Version” that could and should find its way to a theater near you.

With the Sundance Film Festival gearing up this weekend, it’s fitting that “Blue Valentine,” a big player and long awaited film from last year’s fest, is close to hitting the $3 million mark after its sophomore outing last weekend. Everyone was wondering whether “Valentine” would even see the light of day, but almost one year later, an expansion to 230 locations and a steady $5,926 average is making sure that writer/director Derek Cianfrance won’t have to wait another twelve years to see his next project come to fruition.

U.S Indie:
In its seventh week, “Black Swan” still stands atop the active indie ladder in terms of total gross with $73 million and change. The Fox Searchlight powerhouse expanded to 2,328 locations while maintaining a $3,598 average. Natalie Portman will most likely pick up a Best Actress Oscar to keep her Golden Globe company on the film’s way to hitting the $100 million mark.

Focus Features isn’t seeing more award nominations for “Somewhere,” but it is seeing dollar signs. Sofia Coppola’s drama made a big jump from 17 to 53 locations and saw a significant 53% increase in grosses. The $4,717 average isn’t mind-blowing but is probably enough to at least push expansion past the 100 theater mark.

With Natalie Portman’s emergence as the frontrunner for Best Actress at this year’s Academy Awards, Nicole Kidman’s future impact on the staying power of “Rabbit Hole” isn’t as certain as once thought. Lionsgate made a big jump to 100 locations this past weekend but unfortunately continued the film’s trend of low averages ($2,760 to be exact). While the film grossed $276,000 this weekend with an even bigger total if you count the final MLK holiday figures, the drama’s melancholy tone is still struggling to take root with domestic audiences. Going into its sixth weekend, look for “Hole” to need a miracle boost in order to stick around for much longer.

World Cinema:
The Weinstein Company is no longer taking the slow approach in expanding “The King’s Speech.” Tom Hooper’s drama about King George VI and his stammering problems had no problem holding on to a $5,943 average in 1,543 locations. It reached new heights this weekend in jumping “Black Swan” to take the number 4 spot in the box office’s top ten and looks to see now signs of impediment going into its 9th weekend.

“Another Year” made another $111,806 in its third weekend. SPC expanded to 13 theaters as it held on to a decent $8,600 average. Another Sony Classics’ release that has received recent attention in terms of award nominations in the Best Animation category is Sylvain Chomet’s “The Illusionist.” The French film is still only in 7 locations but held strong with an $8,639 average on its way to grossing $60,472 over the weekend.

Specialty Box Office Top 5

Box Office Top 10

Next Weekend:
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, The Housemaid, The Company Men, The Way Back, No Strings Attached