Theater Averages: Long, Strange, and Profitable

May 31, 2017

Long Strange Trip

Long Strange Trip topped the theater chart with an average of $21,739 in two theaters over the weekend. (The film also had a special engagement on Thursday in 50 theaters.) This is more impressive, because of how long the movie is, which limited the number of screenings per day. The only other film to reach the $10,000 club was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales with an average of $14,729. However, Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan came very close with an average of $9,940 in two theaters, plus it was a Wednesday release.

There were almost no other new limited releases to report numbers this week. Hermia and Helena came close to the $10,000 mark with an average of $8,380 in two theaters. On the other extreme, Buena Vista Social Club - Adios only managed an average of $806 in 80 theaters.

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

  • The Lovers had its best weekend yet and that helped it cross $1 million. However, its theater average is low enough that it should start losing theaters shortly.
  • Maudie reached $2 million, plus it is showing surprising legs, so $3 million isn’t out of the question.
  • Colossal got to $3 million last weekend. Because it has different distributors for Canada and the States, there’s sometimes a delay in getting the full numbers. But it hit $3 million in total, which is good for a limited release, except it cost $15 million to make, so it will need to be a much bigger hit on the home market to break even.
  • Lowriders made it to $5 million over the weekend. It has a good shot at $6 million, but that will likely be the end of its run.
  • How to Be a Latin Lover became the first limited release of 2017 to get to $30 million, although to be more accurate, it was a semi-wide release and not a true limited release.
Weekend Box Office Results

Filed under: Theater Averages, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Maudie, Buena Vista Social Club—Adios, Colossal, How to Be a Latin Lover, Lowriders, The Lovers, Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan, Hermia & Helena