By Brendan Swift
War film Beneath Hill 60 has posted an improved performance at the box office over the Anzac Day long weekend.
The film, directed by Jeremy Sims and starring Brendan Cowell, took another $870,819 over the long weekend, pushing its overall tally to almost $1.7 million after two weeks.
The WWI film’s screen average also lifted to a healthier $5,310 compared to just $3,344 in its opening weekend across 164 screens.
The film tells the true story of Oliver Woodward and his platoon of ordinary Australian miners who tunnelled beneath enemy lines and changed the course of the war on the Western Front.
Word of mouth has been positive for the film, which is being distributed by Paramount Pictures Australia and Transmission Films. Screenwriter and co-producer David Roach said the positive audience response was humbling.
"It has taken us by surprise – these messages have come to us from Facebook, via emails and phone calls – people seem to have genuinely connected to this story and many want to make contact with us to share their own story," he said in a statement. "It’s been amazing to see the range of people who have made contact – from school kids to 80 year-olds."
Meanwhile, black comedy Accidents Happen grossed $52,611 ($68,746 including previews) in its opening long weekend across just 12 screens. Its screen average was a respectable $4,384.
Accidents Happen stars Geena Davis and Harrison Gilbertson. It tells the story of the Conways: after a family tragedy, 15-year-old Billy Conway has become the de facto glue between his bitter mom, distant brother, and stoic dad. But when Billy starts to act out, everything changes for him and his family.
|
Film
|
Budget
|
Distributor
|
Opening w/e
|
Box Office
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bran Nue Dae
|
$6.5m
|
Roadshow
|
$1,612,102
|
$7,491,699
|
|
Daybreakers
|
$20m est.
|
Hoyts
|
$1,064,244
|
$2,448,050
|
|
Bright Star
|
$16.7m est.
|
Roadshow/Hopscotch
|
–
|
$2,157,601
|
|
Beneath Hill 60
|
$9.5m
|
Paramount/Transmission
|
$548,371
|
$1,689,996
|
|
Accidents Happen
|
|
Hopscotch
|
$52,611
|
$68,746
|
|
Girl Clock!
|
$1m
|
Self-distributed
|
$8,857
|
$43,174
|
|
Separation City
|
$4.8m
|
Hoyts
|
$15,278
|
$32,159
|
|
Going Vertical
|
|
The Pack/Blue Sea Films
|
$3,879
|
$9,439
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
$13,940,864
|
Source: MPDAA, INSIDEFILM. Separation City is a NZ film. Bright Star released Dec 26, 2009; tally does not include 2009 box office.