Specialty Box Office: Record First Flight for Aronofsky’s Black Swan

Weekend Box Office: December 3rd to the 5th

Fox Searchlight is giving thanks a week late. The limited debut for Black Swan set a new record for Fox’s indie arm. 18 theaters is an unusually tall order for a Searchlight limited debut, but “Swan” raked in over $1.3 million on its way to breaking a Searchlight record with a $77,444 average. Stellar projections at the box office for “Swan” will only help Aronofsky cement his status come Oscar time in February.

Another director, Danny Boyle, that Fox Searchlight knows all too well had a different project in his sights before having to turn to a little project called “Slumdog Millionaire.” After the awards poured in, Boyle had no problem getting the rights to do “127 Hours.” In its fifth weekend, “Hours” grossed $1.6 million and climbed to 433 theaters with no signs of fatigue. In terms of the top ten, Relativity Media took a gamble when it acquired The Warrior’s Way, and it didn’t reach the $5 million projected for its release this weekend. “Way” cost $42 million to make and will come nowhere close to that in the domestic market.

U.S Indie:
Roadside Attractions unveiled I Love You, Phillip Morris to $113,000 in just six locations after distribution delays had surrounded the film with uncertainty. With a decent $18,833 average, the dark comedy with big names like Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor could see successful numbers as it expands into a specialty market filled with dramas. Roadside is hoping for similar success to that of its “Winter’s Bone” release earlier this year that garnered both festival buzz and financial success (over $6 million for the low-budget drama).

All Good Things grossed $40,000 for Magnolia in two locations. The Ryan Gosling vehicle showed potential but will likely be squeezed out over the coming weeks as “Swan,” “Speech,” and “Hours” maintain a hold on the specialty market (not to mention an inundation of studio releases for the holidays).

Magnolia also released Night Catches Us, but the $13,600 grossed in four locations won’t be enough to keep it relevant past the holidays.

World Cinema:
The Weinstein Group has taken a more conservative approach in terms of its expansion strategy for “The King’s Speech,” but this hasn’t inhibited it from making $326,000 in just six theaters. With a $54,333 average in its second week, “Speech” shows no sign of slowing down on its steady trek up the ladder.

Oscilloscope’s Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale made only $9,600 in one location and will have to wait until closer to Christmas to see whether evil Santa and the rest of his devilish elves can consume a greater share at the box office.

Documentary:
In its ninth week, “Inside Job” grossed $213,000 on its way off the charts. The Sony Classics’ release has grossed $2.9 million and could reach $3.5 million in the coming weeks.

Specialty Box Office Top 5

Box Office Top 10

Next Weekend:
The Company Men, The Garden of Eden, The Tourist, The Fighter, The Tempest, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader