Citizenfour,Laura Poitras absorbing documentary about NSA leaker Edward Snowden,opened with the years most impressive non-fiction debut while Birdman continued to fly highabove competitors in the Specialty box office in its expanding second weekend in theaters. Latter-day slacker dramedy Laggies, starring Keira Knightley, opened decently and Roadside added 375 theaters for Sundance controversy-courterDear White People with solid results. <\/p>\n
Citizenfour could very well beRADiUSnext box-office and awards juggernaut. The film, with backing from Participant and HBO Documentary, gives a real-time insider view on the NSAs labyrinthine surveillance and spying effortsas revealed by agency contractor Snowden to Poitras and colleague Glenn Greenwald. It grossed a robust $125,127 in five theaters over the weekend, averaging just over $25K. <\/p>\n
On a straight average comparison, Theres No Place Like Utopia actually had a higher $30,710 PTA when it opened in a single location this past summer, though it quickly floundered and only cumed above $45K. Citizenfour third in a trilogy of Poitras films on national security that also includes Oscar nominee My Country, My Country and The Oathwill likely have a long life in theaters. <\/p>\n
The years highest-grossing specialty doc to date, America: Imagine The World Without Her, opened in June in three theaters, averaging $12,869 from a $38,608 gross. It went on to cume over $14.4 million. <\/p>\n
That will be a tough totalto top, but Citizenfour could be on a b.o. trajectory similar to last years Oscar-winner 20 Feet From Stardom(also from RADiUS) though the two docsare about wildly different topics. 20 Feet opened in three theaters in June 2013 grossing $54,596 for an $18,199 average. It went on to cume nearly $4.45 million. <\/p>\n
You have to go back to Waiting For Superman in 2010 to find a bigger [documentary] opening, said RADiUS co-president Tom Quinnof the education doc by Davis Guggenheim. That film bowed in four theaters, grossing just over $139K for a $34,758 average. <\/p>\n
[We had] sell-out crowds, multiple standing ovations and exceptional numbers, said Quinn. It was a truncated release, opening just two weeks after its world premiere at the New York Film Festival. You always hope for the best and that people come out. Its terrific. <\/p>\n
The title upped the ante on a handful of non-fiction stars this year, including IFC Films Finding Vivian Maier ,which opened with a $21,200 PTA in four theaters ($63,600 gross) andcumed more than $1.5 million. Sundance entry Fed Up, which RADiUS opened in May, averaged $7K in 18 theaters ($126K gross) andcumed more than $1.54 million. Sony Classics art docTims Vermeer opened in four locations, grossing nearly $50K for a $12,444 average. It went on to top $1.67 million. A different sort of non-fiction film, Purdie Distributions religion-minded Meet The Mormons opened earlier this month in a comparatively wide317 theaters, averaging $7,917 ($2.5 million gross). It has cumed upward of $5M so far. <\/p>\n
Because of what [Citizenfour] is, there will hardly be anyone that wont have an opinion, Quinn said. Its extraordinary vrit on an issue that is so timely and relevant. Ive never worked on a film like this ever. <\/p>\n
RADiUS will expand Citizenfour in each of its opening markets, and add Seattle, Chicago and Boston, though Quinn noted that may change come Monday. <\/p>\n
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