Death of a President Dead at Box Office
Filed under: Documentary, Drama, Independent, Mystery & Suspense, Newmarket, Box Office, Cinematical Indie
Controversy doesn't always sell, and Newmarket Films found this out the hard way over the weekend with its dismal receipts from Death of a President. The faux doc grossed only $282,000 from the 143 theaters it played at in the U.S. and Canada, and its per-screen average was only $1,970. Compare that with the much better Shut Up & Sing, which also opened over the weekend with appeal to the Bush-hating crowd; it played in only four theaters for a per-screen average of $12,525. Plus, if we look at NYC's box office, which is a better gauge for small films like DoaP and SU&S, the latter made $21,159 (in two theaters), while the former made less than half that, at $9,043 (in three theaters). Considering the $1 million that Newmarket reportedly paid for the film, the take is very disappointing. Still, there is a good chance that even moviegoers turned off from the subject matter will be more curious in the privacy of their own homes, and the distributor should make its money back through DVD and TV sales. But the numbers should show that such awareness does not always mean anticipation. The same was true last summer with the opening gross for Snakes on a Plane (coincidentally, DoaP rhymes with SoaP).
More on Death of a President:
Netscape Video: Death of a President
TIFF Review: Death of a President
Death of a President: There's No Publicity Like No Publicity
Death of a President -- in the U.S.?
SDCC Panel: Robert Rodriguez's 'Red Sonja'
Review: The X-Files: I Want To Believe
Live from SDCC: Preview Night Gallery!
Live from SDCC: Time to Get Our Con On!
Discuss: Wednesday is the New Friday
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-31-2006 @ 1:53PM
Cath said...
I know a lot of people who would like to see it but are afraid to go, and under the current Administration and the suspension of habeas corpus, that is not such a fanciful apprehension.
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10-31-2006 @ 3:16PM
Matt said...
The depth and scope of conservative republican influence on the media and advertizing is truly disturbing, while they continue to rail at the so-called liberal media,this irony would be humurous if it wasn't so creepy..The Constitution is being systematically undermined and the general public doesn't seem to care.The Bush administration is setting the stage for a despotic police state and they must be stopped.Vote! Write your Congresspeople! Get involved with the process and let your voices be heard ..... before it is too late!
Stand by for the mudslide that will be the right-wing rebuttal.:)AMERICA BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE, NOT THE PRESIDENT!
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11-06-2006 @ 4:50AM
scrubs and shines said...
I was very impressed with this production "Death of a President", the best movie for me thus far this year. I went to watch it twice. I was impressed by the story told in this film. It reminded me of another favorite movie and best picture "Crash". Reality check: of course I would not want George W. Bush Harmed. Impeached yes, and perhaps one day answer for his crimes against humanity. (I won't hold my breath though) I'm very disappointed with all the negative press and general anger towards this film. People Its Fiction, Its Art, What disappoints me is when Art is censored it shows us that society is failing. When art dies, Society dies too as art mirrors society and shows us the future we are moving towards... Five Stars, A Must see for everyone!
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