Press release from: Fox Searchlight
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL opened in cinemas across Australia to an extraordinary $3.41M (on 327 screens) on its opening weekend (Thursday-Sunday inclusive), proving audiences have taken the movie to heart and discovered the perfect counter-programming film to THE HUNGER GAMES.
This is the biggest opening weekend for any Fox Searchlight film in Australia, more than last year’s breakout hit BLACK SWAN ($2.22M on 168 screens) and current highest-grossing Fox Searchlight film THE FULL MONTY ($1.88M on 136 screens). This result is even more impressive considering it is bigger than the opening weekend of MAO’S LAST DANCER ($2.75M on 266 screens) and almost two times bigger than the opening weekend of audience favourite RED DOG ($1.80M on 245 screens).
Directed by John Madden (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE), the film stars Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Tom Wilkinson and Maggie Smith.
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL tells the story of a group of misfit British pensioners who are enticed to retire to a fabulous hotel in Jaipur, India, where they are promised to live a life of luxury for a bargain price. Upon their arrival, they are dismayed to find that restoration of the once elegant Marigold Hotel has stalled. There is water…sometimes. And electricity…sometimes. The hotel’s eager manager, a young Indian entrepreneur, is quick to tell them that his ambitious renovation is going to turn the place around. Surprisingly, the retirees find themselves settling into this strange new world and creating bonds with each other. What their new life lacks in luxury they come to find is plentiful in adventure, stunning beauty, peace and love.
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is currently screening in cinemas across Australia.