New Releases Pleasing on the Per Theater Chart

May 5, 2010

Please Give opened on top of the per theater chart with an impressive average of $23,625 in 5 theaters. This suggests significant room for expansion. With summer less than a week away, it could even be the first limited release of the season to expand enough to earn some measure of mainstream success. It wouldn't be the first Nicole Holofcener film to do so. The Human Centipede earned $12,424 in its lone theater during its opening weekend. Meanwhile, the overall box office leader, A Nightmare on Elm Street, just missed the $10,000 club with an average of $9,875.

The next best new limited release was Harry Brown with an average of $9,124 in 19 theaters. Housefull was also strong, with more than $640,000 in 82 theaters for an average of $7,831. On the other hand, Mercy struggled, earning $1,776 in one theater, which is exactly what Boogie Woogie opened with last week, a bit of a strange coincidence. The Good Heart was the last new release we have box office numbers for. It debuted with just under $6,000 in 5 theaters for an average of $1,191.

This past week also saw milestones reached for a few Per Theater Charts alumni:

• The Joneses reached $1 million since last week, but that's likely as far as it will go.
• The Secret in Their Eyes reached $1 million over the weekend. It should get to $2 million before too long.
• As expected, City Island made it to $2 million. It likely won't expand much more than it has now, but it should have little trouble getting to $3 million and $4 million.
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo reached $4 million during its American run, while it should top $5 million by this time next week.

Filed under: Män som hatar kvinnor, Please Give, A Nightmare on Elm Street, City Island, The Good Heart, The Joneses, Harry Brown, El secreto de sus ojos, Mercy