The Edward Snowden documentary “Citizenfour” is off to a sizzling start at the specialty box office.
Laura Poitras’ documentary about the U.S. National Security Agency’s massive domestic and international spying program opened to $125,172 in five theaters over the weekend. That’s a very strong $25,721 per-theater average.
The debut by “Citizenfour” had Tom Quinn, co-president at the Weinstein Company’s niche label Radius, gushing.
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“As one of the most transcendent, historic and thrilling pieces of cinema I’ve ever come across. I see no limits in how far we can take this,” he said.
Poitras is no stranger to controversial material. She made the Oscar-nominated 2006 documentary “My Country, My Country,” about the cost of the Iraq war on U.S. troops and Iraqis. That landed her on a government watch list, but also led Snowden to seek her out when he wanted to spill the beans on the spying program.
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Also debuting impressively in five theaters was Lynn Shelton‘s romantic comedy “Laggies.”
Starring Keira Knightley as a woman who returns home for her high school reunion and finds very little in her life has changed, “Laggies” brought in $78,500 for a $15,684 per-theater average for the A24 release.
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Chloe Garce Moretz and Sam Rockwell co-star in “Laggies,” which will open nationwide on Nov. 7.
Two films in their second week — “Birdman” and “Dear White People” — both expanded successfully.
Fox Searchlight took “Birdman,” the dark comedy starring Michael Keaton, from four to 50 theaters and the Oscar hopeful directed by Alejandro Iñárritu brought in $1.43 million. That’s a very strong $28,700 per-theater average for the film, which has taken in $2 million in 10 days of limited release.
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“Dear White People” went from 11 to 386 theaters in an aggressive play by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate, and the satirical comedy written and directed by Justin Simien took in $1,313,725 for a strong $3,403 average.