Independent Box Office: Chinese Import ‘The Grandmaster’ Connects in Debut

Martial arts film averages $18K on seven screens. "Short Term 12" opens to $15K in four theaters

The Weinstein Company debuted Chinese director Wong Kar-wai's martial arts action film "The Grandmaster" in seven theaters this weekend and it took in $132,259 for a $18,894 average — the highest average of any film in release.

“The Grandmaster” is a hit in China, where it has grossed more than $45 million since rolling out in January.

Also read: Woody Allen's 'Blue Jasmine' On Course to Be Year's Top Indie at Box Office

There are three versions of the film: the "Chinese Cut" of the film that runs 130 minutes, a 123-minute version that debuted at Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, and the 108-minute version released in the U.S.

“Short Term 12,” the jury and audience award winner at the South by Southwest film festival, made a splash in its limited box-office debut.

Also read: Brie Larson's 12 Long-Term Lessons From 'Short Term 12'

Writer-director Destin Cretton’s tale of a 20-something (Brie Larson) working at a foster care facility took in $60,137 from four theaters for distributor Cinedigm, a $15,034 per-location average.

Fred Santon, Cinedigm’s director of sales and exhibitor relations, said Sunday that the plan was to add five to seven markets next weekend and do the same the following week. The target is about 40 or more markets by Sept. 13.

More to come …

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