By Brendan Swift
Local drama Matching Jack has posted the lowest opening weekend screen average for a widespread Australian feature film release in at least three years.
The film grossed $258,011 in its opening weekend across 186 screens, giving it a screen average of just $1387 despite attracting generally favourable reviews. It is the first local film to be distributed by Fox since Australia.
Back in 2008, Disney's $6 million teen drama Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger took $302,033 across 134 screens in its opening weekend for a screen average of $2253.
The film, shot in Melbourne by husband and wife team David Parker and Nadia Tass, revolves around Marisa Hagen (Jacinda Barrett) who discovers her husband David (Richard Roxburgh) has had multiple affairs throughout their marriage. It raises the possibility that an illegitimate child could save her son Jack (Tom Russell) from leukaemia.
Matching Jack is the sixth local feature to be distributed on more than 100 screens by distributors this year compared to just three in 2009.
Meanwhile, Phillip Noyce's Hollywood spy-thriller Salt took $3.94 million in its first weekend to top the local box office charts.
The film, which reunites the Australian director with Angelina Jolie for the first time since The Bone Collector more than a decade ago, was screened across 365 screens, giving it a healthy screen average of $10,796. Including previews, the Sony Pictures-distributed movie has taken almost $4.06 million.
Christopher Nolan's Inception took another $1.85 million to remain in second spot, passing the $30 million box office mark since it was released five weeks ago.
Australian Films at the Box Office 2010
|
Film
|
Budget
|
Distributor
|
Opening w/e
|
Box Office
|
|
Bran Nue Dae
|
$6.5m
|
Roadshow
|
$1,612,102
|
$7,565,476
|
|
The Kings of Mykonos
|
$6m est.
|
Paramount/Transmission
|
$1,828,902
|
$4,896,679
|
|
Animal Kingdom
|
$5m est.
|
Madman
|
$604,139
|
$4,833,174
|
|
Beneath Hill 60
|
$9.5m
|
Paramount/Transmission
|
$548,694
|
$3,209,471
|
|
Daybreakers
|
$20m est.
|
Hoyts
|
$1,064,244
|
$2,448,050
|
|
I Love You Too
|
$6m
|
Roadshow
|
$113,483
|
$2,361,411
|
|
Bright Star
|
$16.7m est.
|
Roadshow/Hopscotch
|
–
|
$2,157,601
|
|
The Waiting City
|
$2m est.
|
Hopscotch
|
$136,892
|
$617,996
|
|
South Solitary
|
$7m est
|
Icon
|
$132,240
|
$471,194
|
|
Matching Jack
|
$5m est.
|
Fox
|
$258,011
|
$274,834
|
|
Accidents Happen
|
$6.5m est.
|
Hopscotch
|
$39,721
|
$157,131
|
|
Love, Lust & Lies
|
–
|
Beyond Entertainment
|
$20,674
|
$136,595
|
|
Second Hand Wedding
|
–
|
Potential/Arkles
|
$13,680
|
$72,650
|
|
Lou
|
–
|
Kojo Pictures
|
$27,371
|
$59,505
|
|
Girl Clock!
|
$1m
|
Self-distributed
|
$8,857
|
$43,434
|
|
Separation City
|
$4.8m
|
Hoyts
|
$15,278
|
$32,159
|
|
Triangle
|
$8m est.
|
Icon
|
$6,081
|
$11,282
|
|
Going Vertical
|
–
|
The Pack/Blue Sea Films
|
$3,879
|
$9,699
|
|
Savages Crossing
|
$3.5m
|
MediaKin/GAP
|
$4,432
|
$8,651
|
|
Playing For Charlie
|
$1.2m
|
The Pack
|
$2,665
|
$5,867
|
|
The Nothing Men
|
Anchor Bay Films
|
$4,518
|
$5,812
|
|
|
The Horseman
|
$500,000
|
Umbrella Entertainment
|
$2,270
|
$3,328
|