Audiences have embraced the Australian film Clubland.
The film reached $1 million at the box office over the weekend, after just two and a half weeks in limited release, despite heavyweight box office competition from blockbusters such as Transformers, Shrek 3 and Harry Potter.
Now, with school holidays concluded, Clubland has broadened from its initial 60-screen release to 85 screens, with another 15 regional screens to begin playing the film before the end of July.
In the United States and Canada, where Clubland has been retitled Introducing The Dwights, the film is now playing in 50 cities and has had huge media coverage with director Cherie Nowlan and actors Brenda Blethyn, Emma Booth and Richard Wilson touring to promote it.
There’s even Oscar speculation for twice Academy-Award nominated Brenda Blethyn, and rave reviews for Australia’s Emma Booth, who was compared by the Seattle Times to a young Sissy Spacek.
‘Palace is delighted that Clubland has reached its first $1 million at the Australian box office. Clubland is a real crowd pleaser which will continue to thrive out there in a crowded cinema market place through great word of mouth. Cinemas are reporting a fantastic audience response to Clubland,’ said Benjamin Zeccola, Executive Director, Palace Films.
[release from TM Publicity for Palace Films]