Specialty Box Office: ‘Black Swan’ Tippy Toes Around Studio Pics

Weekend Box Office: December 17th to the 19th

In the past few weeks, 3D releases have inundated the studio market. Disney’s Tron: Legacy took in 82% of its $43.6 million gross from 3D showings. But the recent buzz around specialty titles like “Black Swan,” and “The King’s Speech” has delivered quite a compelling argument for the viability of smaller budgets. Even studio pic “The Fighter” is relatively low-budget compared to other studio productions. Each of these three powerhouses had very different expansion strategies on their climb atop the indie ladder. “Fighter” expanded to 2,503 theaters from just 4 and grossed an impressive $12.2 million in its sophomore outing, but “Speech” managed to maintain a $25,000 average in expanding to only 43 theaters in its fourth week. The real story, however, was with Fox Searchlight’s “Swan” as it expanded to 953 theaters and held strong with an $8,655 average (fending off much more expensive studio titles). 

“Black Swan” has already made back its $13 million budget with much higher aspirations as award season approaches. The title has found success in a middle ground between aggressive expansion strategies like “Fighter” and the much more conservative “Speech.” With four Golden Globe nominations for “Swan” including a Best Director nod for Darren Aronofsky, the film has been riding a critical and financial wave on its way to becoming Aronofsky’s most successful film.

U.S Indie:
Rabbit Hole debuted to a respectful $11,000 in only five theaters. After a recent Golden Globe nomination for Nicole Kidman, Lionsgate is hoping that her name will make further expansion possible in the coming awards season. With an additional four Independent Spirit Award nominations under its belt, look for “Hole” to use this critical clout to survive a crowded specialty market through Christmas.

ATO Pictures released Casino Jack to a $5,000 average in seven theaters and is hoping that Kevin Spacey’s name will bring a little momentum to the project as it expands this week. While not as critically acclaimed as “Hole,” the film’s comedic tone could bring the project domestic success in a specialty market filled with dramas. Likewise, Roadside Attraction’s comedy, “I Love You, Phillip Morris,” grossed $146,000 as it prepares for a wide release.

Julie Taymor’s “The Tempest” couldn’t find a strong foothold in its sophomore weekend as it expanded to 21 theaters and only managed a $2,548 average. Miramax will be praying for a Christmas miracle as the film expands. The adaptation starring Helen Mirren could find a financial boost overseas with a March opening planned for the UK.

“127 Hours” continued its withdrawal from theaters, but look for Fox Searchlight to plan a wide release after the Oscar nominations are announced in late January. The film has grossed over $9 million in its seven weeks of limited runs and has done well with only playing in 433 theaters at its peak.

World Cinema:
In its fifth week, Nigel Cole’s “Made in Dagenham” has expanded to 31 theaters and managed to grind out another $43,800 for Sony Classics. Cole’s latest release is not exactly raking in the kind of cash domestically that “Calendar Girls” did in 2003, but the film has managed to hang around in a very competitive holiday market that has been filled with big names and award contenders.

Specialty Box Office Top 5

Box Office Top 10

Next Weekend:
Somewhere, True Grit, Little Fockers, Country Strong