What's with the deal with the distribution on the Clooney movie

[WA98296]

Good Night and Good Luck?

Been waiting patiently for the release, just outside the Seattle area...now I find it is only at one theater downtown Seattle, and one other in the University District.

Is it not getting distribution, or what is the deal? I would rather not travel into the city to see it.

Thanks for any info.

[texpatriot2004]

1. In Houston it's only at one theater downtown too. n.t

[NYCGirl]

2. I guess B&W films have problems getting wide distribution.

It may open wider later on.

[WA98296]

5. I'm hoping -- this one sounded so good....

but I guess we need to leave room for the big box office draws for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and The Fog...

[bmcatt]

6. And I want to see both GN&GL and W&G...

But in my area of NJ, GN&GL isn't anywhere near me. Closest theater that's carrying it is in New York. My tentative plans for the weekend had been to take my 3-year old to W&G and then on the other day take myself to GN&GL. So much for that idea. Meh.

[porphyrian]

3. Probably based on results of initial box office. - n/t

[quiet.american]

7. True -- movies sometimes open small, then go wide. n/t

[Beaverhausen]

9. Actually in the few theatres it opened in the per screen average was great

$38K compared to Wallace & Grommit at $4k per screen.

I hope they will go wider with the release. This is a very important film.

But if you all travel a bit to see it that may inspire the distributor to put it in more theatres.

[TahitiNut]

14. $421K on 11 screens last weekend.

:shrug: Not bad for an indy film.

[idiosyncratic]

4. I don't see it playing anywhere here in San Diego . . . eom

[oasis]

8. If it's not an action film with chase scenes, giant explosions and sex, a

dumbed down American public won't go to see it. Wait for the DVD.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. This is something that has been done for years with films that

are expected to be both critical and box office successes. They usually run in limited theaters on an exclusive for a few weeks, and then get a general release.

I don't think we have anything to worry about. Good Night and Good Luck is going to be a smash hit!

[Enraged_Ape]

19. I remember "The Crying Game" started out this way

An indie film with a different kind of subject matter and a cast of mostly unknowns. And looked what happened to it. Critical acclaim is critical acclaim, and "Good Night..." is already getting plenty of that.

[Writer]

11. It's an independently funded film which, hence, gets limited distribution.

Films which large budgets and large distribution contracts hit your local Cinemark. Films like "Good Night and Good Luck" with limited budgets hit your local indy house.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. Since it has no explosions, car chases, space monsters, serial killers,

or glamorous bodies having sex, it is deemed to have no popular appeal.

In Minneapolis, it's opening at one of the theaters that typically plays "art" films.

[TahitiNut]

13. The US distributor is Warner Independent Pictures

They're small.

[Beaverhausen]

16. But they did well with March of the Penguins and can with this one too

if people go see it...hint hint!!!

[SharonRB]

15. I thought maybe we'd go tonight, but it doesn't look like it's

playing anywhere in the Detroit area. I'm really bummed out.

On edit: I just found it at one of the art theatres -- the Maple.

[zippy890]

17. yeah, not playing around me either

I wanted to go tonight

[Enraged_Ape]

18. Mr. Clooney's going to be on Charlie Rose tonight

Word of mouth is going to get this film into theaters across the country; count on it. George is gonna hit this one right out of the park. From what I've heard, I wouldn't even be surprised if he gets an Oscar nomination for Best Director for this film.

I think a lot of theater owners just felt nervous about the subject matter (a 1950s journalist), the format (black and white), and the director (Clooney, who although quite talented has not made that many movies). But as with Fahrenheit 911, they will pick it up when they begin hearing the buzz, and the buzz so far has been nothing less than terrific.

[hwmnbn]

20. here's the national release dates....

according to http://wip.warnerbros.com/goodnightgoodluck/


OCTOBER 7, 2005
Boston
Los Angeles
New York
San Francisco
Washington D.C.

OCTOBER 14, 2005
Atlanta
Baltimore
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Ft. Lauderdale
Houston
Miami
Minneapolis
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Portland
Seattle
West Palm Beach

OCTOBER 21, 2005
Albuquerque
Anchorage
Austin
Charlotte
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbus
Fresno
Ft. Meyers
Honolulu
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Monterey
Orlando
Pittsburg
Reno
Sacramento
Salt Lake City
San Antonio
San Diego
Santa Barbara
St. Louis

OCTOBER 28, 2005
Montreal
Nashville
Toronto
Tucson
Vancouver

NOVEMBER 4, 2005
Opening in additional markets

[Beaverhausen]

21. you rock!

:yourock:

[hwmnbn]

23. and I occasionally roll too....

:headbang:

[librechik]

25. fear not, I predict that this fine movie has a long and robust future

on cable television, if nowhere else--Mark Cuban owns a couple of networks.

[hwmnbn]

22. and btw, I predict.......

It will do better than Fahrenheit 9-11. Y'all heard it here folks!

[SharonRB]

24. I just got back from seeing it.

It's a must-see. It was pretty crowded, but not as crowded as Fahrenheit 9/11 was the first weekend.

[Eric J in MN]

26. "Fahrenheit 9/11" was in theaters everywhere,

not in one theater per big city.

[applegrove]

27. Remember Michael Moore's last two had to be distributed by outside

production companies.