Specialty Box Office: 127 Hours Cuts Off Competition’s Limbs

With a promising limited debut this weekend (in only four theaters), “127 Hours” has given Fox Searchlight about 266,000 reasons to look forward to the holidays. The per-screen average comes out to about $66,500 (an average second only to “The Kids Are Alright” released by Focus Features). Boyle must be experiencing déjà-vu after the successful limited debut of “Slumdog Millionaire” two years ago on Nov. 12th where it put up a $36,002 per-screen average and went on to gross upwards of $141 million.

While newcomers like “Hours” showed potential, others struggled to maintain a foothold. Lionsgate’s “Buried” declined %50 in its seventh week and scaled back to 46 theaters from 107 last week. In its sophomore weekend, “Wild Target” grossed only $12,300 and struggled to find audiences domestically after grossing $1.4 million in foreign markets.

U.S Indie:
In other Fox Searchlight news, “Conviction” expands to 672 theaters this week for a decent $2,314 per-screen average. With $1.5 million grossed in its fourth week (a 15 % decline), the film’s climb up the box office ladder has probably seen its apex at number ten last week.

“For Colored Girls” sweeps in at number three with $20.1 million. Albeit a bit low for a Tyler Perry release, Lionsgate should be proud of a $9,450 per-screen average in 2,127 locations. “Saw 3D,” however, took an expected hit grossing $8.2 million dollars and dropping down to number five overall.

Summit Entertainment’s newcomer, “Fair Game,” starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn grossed $700,000 in an aggressive 46 screen debut. This fictional look into the life of former CIA agent Valerie Plame (Watts) and her marriage to Joe Wilson (Penn) could have Oscar voters talking come awards season. Based on the weekend’s success, look for “Game” to expand its way into the box office top ten as quickly as this upcoming weekend.

World Cinema:
“The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” had no trouble expanding in its second week to 186 screens and grossed $737,000 for a very happy Music Box Films. “Nest” looks to end the trilogy on a high note after the first two films combined to gross upwards of $17 million domestically.

A film that won’t see such fast expansion is “Four Lions” which grossed a modest $5,625 per-screen average in its first weekend. In eight locations, the political satire from Drafthouse Films (their first film in the distribution game) grossed $45,000.

Documentary Film:
“Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer” opened in New York this weekend, grossing $19,000. As “Client 9” expands, Magnolia is hoping that the film’s look into the life of former Governor Spitzer will resonate with audiences outside of New York. It is clear that the success of “Waiting for Superman” ($5.3 million total gross) has set the bar pretty high for documentaries this year.

Studio:
At the top of the charts, “Megamind” comes in at $47.6 million with 66% coming from 3D screenings. Paramount should have lots to be thankful for this season with other recent successful debuts like “Jackass 3D” and “Paranormal Activity 2.”

Warner Brothers has the resurgence of Todd Phillips to be thankful for coming in at number two in the box office with $33.5 million for “Due Date” (a solid showing for the R-rated road trip). The studio hopes “Due Date” will satisfy appetites until the release of “Hangover 2” in summer 2011.

Holding on with solid numbers at the number four spot is “Red” with $8.8 million. With only a 17% decline, Summit Entertainment’s “little adaptation that could” might keep chugging along on its way to the $100 million mark domestically.

Specialty Box Office Top 5

Box Office Top 10