300: Rise of An Empire may have had a huge opening for a March action film, but Wes Anderson fans rushed to the four theaters that screened The Grand Budapest Hotel. The film scored the largest limited debut in film history.
The Grad Budapest Hotel, which stars Ralph Fiennes in a rare comedic turn, made a whopping $800,00, even though it was only shown in two theaters in New York and two in Los Angeles. That’s a $200,000-per-theater average. The film, which debuted at the Berlin Film Festival last month, is being distributed by Fox Searchlight.
Variety reports that it did set the record for the biggest limited opening for a live action film. Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2012 film The Master previously held the record with a $147,000-per-theater average.
Anderson’s previous film, Moonrise Kingdom, also had the title until The Master. Moonrise had a $131,000-per-theater average.
While most of the country couldn’t see Budapest, crowds flocked to see Rise of an Empire. While the film didn’t have the same huge debut 300 had in 2007, it still grossed $45.1 million during its first weekend, notes The Hollywood Reporter. It’s also been a huge hit overseas, grossing $87.8 million in foreign markets.
DreamWorks Animation’s Mr. Peabody & Sherman grossed $32.5 million. It was likely hurt by the fact that The LEGO Movie is still doing well, making $11 million in its fifth weekend.
Also of note, Best Picture winner 12 Years A Slave made $2.2 million, even though it was released on home video Tuesday. The film has made $53.1 million since opening last fall.
image courtesy of YouTube trailer/screenshot