Jonesing for Limited Releases
April 16, 2010
While there are only five limited releases on this week's list, two of them are opening in more than 100 theaters. However, both of those films are only earning mixed reviews. The best-reviewed limited release of the week is Exit Through the Gift Shop, which currently has 100% positive reviews. Hopefully that will translate into a strong start at the box office.
The City of Your Final Destination - Reviews
Exit Through the Gift Shop - Reviews
The Joneses - Reviews
The Perfect Game - Reviews
The Secret in Their Eyes - Reviews
The first Merchant Ivory film made since the death of Ismail Merchant. It was made in 2007 but it took a long time to find a distributor and a release date. Given the mixed reviews, this is not a huge surprise. On the other hand, the film does have an impressive pedigree and that could help it at the box office during its opening weekend. The City of Your Final Destination opens tonight at the Paris Theatre in New York City.
A documentary about street artist, Banksy, by French filmmaker, Thierry Guetta. ... At least that's how it started. In the end, Thierry Guetta became a street artist himself and Banksy was the one who made the movie. This is a fascinating back-story, and the reviews suggest the final product is even better. Exit Through the Gift Shop opens tonight in 8 theaters, mostly in the Los Angeles area.
The first of two limited releases that are opening in more than 100 theaters. This is rarely a good move. Additionally the reviews are only mixed, which would be fine for a wide release, but it is terrible for a limited release. Finally, neither David Duchovny nor Demi Moore are exactly box office powerhouses. There's little hope for this film at the box office, but maybe it will find an audience on the home market.
The widest limited release of the week, opening in more than 400 theaters. This film tells the story of the Mexican little league team that were able to make it to the Little League World Series back in 1957. The film's reviews are good, but not great, and its appeal depends heavily on your love of baseball and your tolerance of clichés. Given its theater count, there is a slim chance it will sneak into the top ten with $2.5 million, but there's also a chance it will miss the Mendoza Line. Sadly, given the history of films opening in "Select Cities", the lower end is more likely.
An Argentinian / Spanish co-production that was a major award winner in both nations. The reviews here are excellent and even though foreign language films tend to have a tough time at the box office, this one could be an exception. The Secret in Their Eyes opens tonight in several theaters in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
Filed under: Limited Releases, The City of Your Final Destination, The Perfect Game, The Joneses, El secreto de sus ojos, Exit Through the Gift Shop