F911 is a smash of historic proportions

[Pale Blue Dot]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/movies/box_office.php

I consider myself somewhat of a film historian, and the business of film has always interested me. What we are witnessing this weekend with Fahrenheit 9/11 is a moment in film history that is going to be talked about for the rest of our lives. Here are just a few of the financial accomplishments of this film:

1. It has become the highest-grossing documentary of all time after just one weekend;

2. It did so at the height of the summer movie season, when Hollywood traditionally brings out its big guns;

3. It did so despite being on just 898 screens - the next lowest number of screens for any film in the top ten was 2175;

4. It had a per-screen average of $25,100.

Here are just a few things that are likely to happen given this incredible level of success: expect more anti-Bush movies - success in Hollywood breeds copycats; Michael Eisner may be done at Disney; the number of screens will increase next week as theater owners jump on the bandwagon; and press coverage will also increase.

Alas, with "Spiderman 2" opening this week, there is no way that F911 can repeat at number one. But that should not take away from this historic moment in film.

[Kurt Remarque]

1. plus...it's really good!

i just saw it and the place was packed

[Deja Q]

2. But if Spiderman 2 crumbles, F911 may have a second chance.

We can only hope. Spider-man worked for me because, superhero bullsplat aside, I can relate to Peter Parker. But the big thing in Spiderman 2 is apparently the baddie threatening to reveal Spidey's mask. Big deal, they did that on the 60s TV show "Batman" every other week. :eyes:

After all, look at the hyped up Shrek 2. Bomb-o.

[Lorien]

4. Spiderman 2 is getting great reviews

but I don't think people will be nagging reluctant family members and co-workers into seeing it.

[Lorien]

3. Oh Lord, please let Eisner be "done in" by this

he's my boss :-(.

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. Shareholders are already pissed at him

And F911 will be the most profitable film of the year. People are going to be asking Eisner a lot of tough questions that he won't have good answers for.

[elperromagico]

9. Yes, but at least Jeb won't make him sleep on the couch.

;)

[elperromagico]

6. Here's something from CNN:

All italics mine.

Fahrenheit 9/11 is No. 1 at box office

"Indeed, 'Fahrenheit 9/11' played strongly in big cities and small towns, in Democrat and Republican states, said Tom Ortenberg, the president of distribution at Lions Gate Films, one of the firms that backed the movie.

"According to exit surveys in about 15 cities, 91 percent of respondents gave the film an 'excellent' rating, while 93 percent said they would 'definitely recommend' the film -- tallies that Ortenberg said were the best he had ever seen. The core audience was aged between 25 and 34, he added."

This film is getting positive response from almost everyone who sees it, and what's more, it appeals most to a group of people who are historically among the most apathetic and uninvolved in an election year.

This is good, good news.

[jus_the_facts]

7. betcha it won't get shown here....

...regardless o'how popular it's become. x(

:hi: hope you're doin' well this evenin'! :loveya:

[elperromagico]

8. It's running here in Arkansas to a generally positive reception,

so don't give up hope. :)

[LynneSin]

10. Look at these numbers for the weekend!!!

http://movies.yahoo.com/boxoffice/latest/rank.html

1 - Fahrenheit 9/11 LIONS $21,800,000 868
2 - White Chicks SONY $19,600,000 2726
3 1 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story FOX 3020
4 2 The Terminal D'WORKS $13,900 2914
5 - The Notebook NL $13,025,000 2303
6 3 Harry Potter WB $11,420,000 3404
7 4 Shrek 2 D'WORKS $10,500,000 2937
8 5 Garfield FOX $7,000,000 2937
9 - Two Brothers UNIV $6,200,000 2175
10 7 The Stepford Wives PARA $5,200,000 2437
11 9 Around the World in 80 Days BV 2801
12 8 The Day After Tomorrow FOX $4,250,000 2212

---

Not one of those films except F9/11 are in less than 2000 theaters. And btw, Disney has one movie on that list - BV is Buena Vista Pictures which is a division of Disney. That movie cost $110mill dollars to make and for the 2nd week out it has made a whole whooping $18 million. Someone's head is going to roll at Disney. Fahrenheit 9/11 is nothing but profits but they are promoting another Isthar with the 80 days movie

[Bleacher Creature]

11. People should relax about the Spiderman opening.

Spiderman 2 opens on Wednesday. It will EASILY be the #1 movie in America, and it will probably have close to, if not the biggest opening ever.

That said, this is all GOOD for F911. Being the number 2 or number 3 movie on a weekend like that still means you make a s***load of money. The overall numbers of people going to the movies rises, and the people who can't get in to the top movie often wind up seeing something else. Not only that, but the two films have somewhat different audiences.

We should all be rooting for Spiderman to do really well. If that happens, and F911 can come in second, it will probably far exceed what it made this weekend.