Jazzing Up the Per Theater Chart

February 14, 2012

Chico and Rita started its run on top of the per theater chart with $21,400 in one theater. Given its reviews and its Oscar nomination, it should have no trouble expanding at least somewhat. The overall number one film, The Vow, was in second place on the per theater chart with an average of $13,929. Safe House was close behind with $12,880. It's not too common for wide releases to earn more than $10,000 on the per theater chart at this time of year, so to have two of them do so on the same weekend is doubly impressive. The final film in the $10,000 club was Rampart with an average of $12,089. Like Chico and Rita it should expand for similar reasons. (I.E. Strong reviews and major nominations.)

The best of the rest of the new limited releases was yet another Awards Season player, as In Darkness debuted with an average of $9,138. Expanding substantially is likely out of the question for this movie, but it could do well for a foreign language film. Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu earned more than $600,000 in over 100 theaters for an average of $5,740. It will likely collapse next weekend, as most films aimed at the same target audience do, but it should still reach $1 million before it leaves theaters. Likewise, 2012 Oscar Shorts should also earn $1 million in theaters after starting with an average of $3,436 in 120 theaters. Finally, Return failed to spark too much interest with an average of $2,239 in 3 theaters.

This past week also saw milestones reached for a couple Per Theater Chart alumni:

• Albert Nobbs just got to $2 million over the weekend, while it should have little trouble topping $3 million before long.
• Melancholia just made it to $3 million, but that's as far as it will go.
• The Descendants has now reached $70 million, which is almost exactly the same as No Strings Attached, while it is reaching for the top 50 for the year. It will continue to climb the chart.

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Theater Averages, The Descendants, Albert Nobbs, Rampart, Melancholia, Safe House, The Vow, In Darkness, Chico & Rita, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Return, 2012 Oscar Shorts