February 23rd, 2010
We're still in that no-man's land for the home market: it's way too late to take advantage of the Christmas shopping season and it's still too early for most Awards Season releases to be on shelves.
There are a few wide releases coming out this week, but only one of them, The Informant!, is worth buying on either DVD or Blu-ray. The best release of the week, and the winner of our Pick of the Week honor, is The Damned United, which is worth picking up on DVD or Blu-ray. Meanwhile, Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day - Blu-ray earns the coveted and rarely-awarded Puck of the Week.
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February 21st, 2010
The September Issue is a documentary about the September issue of Vogue magazine, widely considered the bible of fashion. As anyone who knows me (or the clothes I normally wear) is aware, my knowledge of fashion is zero. It's less than zero. This film, therefore, has a tough road to travel to win me over. But, as always, I remain open-minded.
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October 13th, 2009
No less than six films broke the $10,000 per theater average barrier over the weekend.
Paranormal Activity topped the per theater chart with its record-breaking weekend, earning an average of $49,379 in 160 theaters.
An Education was relatively close behind with an average of $39,754 in 4 theaters, which is a spectacular result at any time.
A Serious Man remained strong with an average of $21,872, which is enough to suggest further significant expansion over the coming weeks.
The number one film at the box office, Couples Retreat, was next with an average of $11,429.
Yes Men Fix the World and Bronson had nearly identical averages at $10,956 vs. $10,940.
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September 29th, 2009
Capitalism - A Love Story lead the way on the per theater chart with an average of $57,991 in four theaters over the weekend, while it made nearly $300,000 in just five days.
Coco Before Chanel was well back, but it still made an impressive average of $35,427 in five theaters.
For both films, this is a good portent for its potential to expand.
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men was the only other film in the $10,000 club after it made $18,510 in its lone theater.
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September 16th, 2009
Crude topped the per theater charts with $16,595 in its one theater. The overall box office leader, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, also topped the $10,000 mark with an average of $10,398.
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September 9th, 2009
Not a single film reached the $10,000 mark on the per theater chart this weekend.
In fact, there weren't even any films that came close.
The best movie overall was The September Issue with an average of just $7,303, which was one fifth of its opening per theater average.
Granted it did triple its theater count this past weekend, so a decline in its per theater average was expected, but it also saw its overall box office fall by a third.
The best new release of the week was All About Steve, which was only halfway there at $4,994.
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September 1st, 2009
This proved to be a bumper weekend for movies in limited release.
The September Issue was the number one film on the per theater chart, and it won by a huge margin with an average of $36,736 to an average of $12,133 for Big Fan. The Headless Woman was right behind with $11,862 in one theater. Der Baader Meinhof Komplex grew over the weekend to earn $10,564. Brighton Rock returned to the $10,000 club with $10,392 in one theater. And Still Walking was the final film in the $10,000 club, earning an average of $10,149 in two theaters.
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August 28th, 2009
There are seven limited releases on this week's list, including a number earning very impressive reviews. That said, I can't see any films that strong shot at mainstream success. Big Fan has a chance, if its reviews hold strong, but most will have to wait till the home market to find an audience, if they find an audience.
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