Per Theater Chart: Thief Steals Top Spot

November 12, 2013

The Book Thief was a surprise top spot with an average of $26,251 in four theaters. It was seen by some as a possible Awards Season contender, but its reviews suggest otherwise. Thor: The Dark World was first on the overall box office and second on the per theater chart with $22,322. Dallas Buyers Club fell from first to third on the per theater chart, but with a still strong average of $18,249 in 35 theaters.

Other new limited releases had a wide range of results with Reaching for the Moon doing relatively well with an average of $7,287 in two theaters. The Armstrong Lie opened in five theaters with an average of $6,181. Go For Sisters was not as strong with an average of $3,001 in two theaters. At Berkeley and People of a Feather were neck-and-neck with averages of $2,535 and $2,413 respectively. Great Expectations was anything but, with an average of $1,029 in 86 theaters. How I Live Now was even weaker with an average of $420 on 68.

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

• All is Lost hit $2 million over the weekend and it is already nearly at $3 million. Its per theater average suggests it won't expand significantly beyond this point, but this is still a good result.
• Enough Said got all the way to $15 million, which is more than The Last Exorcism Part 2 finished with. This is going to be the film's last major milestone, on the other hand.
• 12 Years a Slave reached $10 million before the weekend and surpassed $15 million during the weekend. It is about to overtake Beautiful Creatures, a film that cost $50 million to make and opened in just over 2,500 theaters. Before the weekend begins, the film's box office will be over $20 million and who knows where it will be this time next week. Its per theater average is large enough that it might expand some more.

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Theater Averages, Dallas Buyers Club, Thor: The Dark World, All is Lost, The Book Thief, 12 Years a Slave, How I Live Now, Enough Said, Great Expectations, The Armstrong Lie, Go For Sisters, Flores Raras, People of a Feather, At Berkeley