Per Theater Chart: Irrational has Very Reasonable Debut

July 22, 2015

The $10,000 club was led by Irrational Man with $175,312 in five theaters for an average of $35,062. While this was the best average of the weekend, it was the weakest opening weekend for a Woody Allen movie since You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. The Stanford Prison Experiment was next with an average of $18,757 in two theaters. Its reviews are good, but not great, so its chances to expand significantly are still just 50/50. Up next is a pair of wide releases, Ant-Man and Minions, which earned averages of $14,841 and $11,430 respectively. The final entrant in the $10,000 club was Bajrangi Bhaijaan with an average of $10,239; however, it was playing in 256 theaters and arguably it had the most impressive opening for any limited release this week. This is the second weekend in a row a Bollywood film did this well on the per theater chart.

There were a few other new limited releases that did well, while there were others who bombed. Surprisingly, the best of the rest was Northern Line Limit with an average of $8,327 in 13 theaters. I feared the fact that the film was based on real life events that have no connection to the average moviegoer here would prevent it from finding an audience, but this is a great start. Mr. Holmes also did very well with an average of $6,745 in 361 theaters. Its total box office was $2.43 million, which is better than the vast majority of limited releases finish with. The Look of Silence was right behind with $6,616 in one theater. Court did okay with $4,806, also in one theater. Lila and Eve opened on VOD, so it is not a surprise its per theater average was low at $991 in 22 theaters. Alleluia was playing on VOD and struggled in theaters with an average of $904 in three theaters. We find El Ardor further down the list with an average of $807 in 13 theaters. It too was playing on VOD. Fidelio Alice's Journey didn't have the same excuse and it only managed $454 in its lone theater.

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

• The Wolfpack crossed $1 million before the weekend. It won't get any further, but this is still excellent for a documentary.
• The Overnight reached $1 million over the weekend, but it too will go no further.
• Bajrangi Bhaijaan opened with more than $2 million and will get past $3 million before the weekend. On the downside, Bollywood films very often have terrible legs. There are not that many released here, so fans rush out to see them opening weekend instead of taking their time.
• Mr. Holmes also earned more than $2 million during its opening weekend, but its chances of expanding are much better than the previous film.
• Amy topped $3 million before the weekend and $4 million over the weekend. It will have no trouble getting to $5 million, but its per theater average is low enough that that's as far as it will go.
• Baahubali: The Beginning crashed past $5 million before the weekend. I would like to to think it has a chance at $10 million, but it already has direct competition and the Bollywood marketplace isn't that large.

Filed under: Theater Averages, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Ant-Man, Minions, The Look of Silence, Mr. Holmes, Lila & Eve, The Overnight, The Wolfpack, Irrational Man, El Ardor, Amy, Court, Alléluia, Fidelio, l'odyssée d'Alice, N.L.L: Yeonpyeong Haejeon, Baahubali: The Beginning, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Woody Allen