63th Portuguese Box-Office Analysis

It’s the 7th I made in the desert. And the “thirst” for civilization grows each day. Especially to go again to the cinema and see a good movie. The last one was “The Departed” from Mr. Scorsese so it has been a long time ago (5 weeks and 2 days to be exact). But I particularly miss the people I love.

Well no more talk about feelings and let’s start with this week’s new entries.
We have a new number one and a very solid one, although it’s still not the most impressive run of the week. That is reserved for a movie that is not a surprise for someone who lives in Portugal, but could be for everyone else. And the chance for you to see it on your country is close to zero. Only in here it’s possible to see, so why not a visit to this beautiful country? And not only because of this. You have so much to see here.
Returning to the openings, we have another one at the top three. And although the number of spectators is good, the average is far from impressive.
Another opener at the top ten but it only counted one day since it opened one day before the start of the new movie week. That’s why the number is far from impressive. Next week we will find it’s true strength. We are talking of an animation movie so it should have a good opening. Or did the gold vein finally gave it’s last hurrah??
Finally the return (maybe for the last time?) of a great American director. He’s already part of history and received, last year, is long overdue Oscar. You know who I am talking about, no? Of course you know. If you don’t you are not a true movie buff. And should study a little bit more of cinema history. It’s only 100 years but it’s already so rich. Every day it’s knowledge gets bigger. And it’s difficult to catch up to old times when the new ones overwhelm you. But you have to try.

Let’s get to the numbers of true. And in this week they are as it follows.

This report concerns the week between 26 of October and 1 of November.

Legend

Position/Movie
Number of Theaters
Number of Spectators/Week
Average per Theater/Week
Comparison with Last Week’s Number of Spectators
Number of Spectators/Total Run
Week of Release
1. The Devil Wears Prada
61
72545
1189
-
72545
1st Week
2. Filme da Treta
43
53418
1242
-18%
186655
3rd Week
3. Children of Men
44
30560
695
-
30560
1st Week

4. Barnyard
50
24295
486
-4%
162336
4th Week

5. The Guardian
58
23434
404
-27%
98423
3rd Week

6. Marie Antoinette
22
17382
790
-33%
43201
2nd Week

7. Click
44
14341
326
-33%
126904
4th Week

8. Crank
43
11572
269
-22%
26487
2nd Week

9. Boog & Elliott
40
9075
227
-
9075
1st Week (1 Day)

10. Little Miss Sunshine
13
6593
507
-21%
24406
3rd Week
.
.
.
20. A Prairie Home Companion
3
1794
598
-
1794
1st Week

The Champion:

“The Devil Wears Prada”. After it’s, more than impressive, amazing performance in the U.S of A it reaches Portugal in a state of grace and behind a big campaign. The book was, recently, re-released, and is selling good. And with movie poster all around the place, marks this very impressive campaign. And Ms Meryl Streep as a calling card is always a good pick up to get people on theaters. It gets 72545 spectators but it still doesn’t get the best average. That is a job for the Portuguese movie that comes after, “Filme da Treta”. After two weeks at the top, in number of spectators it still continues with the average first place. 1242 to 1189 from “The Devil Wears Prada”. Still a good opening for Portuguese standards to this kind of movie, the Romantic Comedy/Drama.

At number 3 is “Children of Men” with it’s 30560 spectators and the lowly 700 average per theater. Not impressive but a good result after Cuaron’s trip to Harry Potter land in is latest film, which follows the crusade of a man, asked to protect a woman that after some years with no newborns in a Earth, is the final hope to save the planet. A grim view to Earth’s future, that got some attention but not enough to make it a success. But as I said before more than 28000 spectators is already a good opening in Portuguese standards, especially in no-blockbuster land.

Opening at Wednesday, and just for a day we have “Boog & Elliot” that managed 9075 spectators in just one day. We have to wait for next week to see how they behave in a full week. I don’t expect a very strong week, when a few days ago other animation movie opened, “ Barnyard”. But still it will be stronger than this week’s one day result, that is for sure.

Finally, and closing the top 20, is the latest movie(and yes, his last one) from Robert Altman. It’s called “Prarie Home Companion”. What a cinema master is obliged to do. The studio demanded to have in the film, a second director, in case he died. And not every day director, but Pt. Anderson, the same who brought us Magnolia, yes it’s true. With an average of almost 600, and 1794 spectators in just 3 theaters. A small movie having small but respectable numbers. I see cinema masters can still gather a crowd, even in a more personal movie.

The Winner of the Week:

For the third straight week, it’s still “Filme da Treta”, the winner . The best average and a strong third week (above 50000) marks it’s third and now the best movie of the year. It’s the first one to get three winner titles, in three straight weeks. Impressive.

The Looser of the Week:

Adam Sandler, the looser of the week. I didn’t expect to say this one day (although in his films, he always starts as a looser and ends as a winner) but his 4th week had only a 326 average and a 33% drop. Not very bad but it still was the worst of the week. And don’t expect much better next week. The film is “Click”, if you didn’t guessed it.

See you next week. And this time already at home. Finally.

Bye.
Good Night and Good Films.