Pictures hope to spin gold - Oscars

Pictures hope to spin gold of Oscar nominations
Posted online: Friday, February 10, 2006 at 0000 hours IST

While six-time Oscar nominee Crash has long been available on DVD, the other four best picture contenders are planning major theatrical expansions.Oscar front-runner Brokeback Mountain, with eight mentions, has collected $51 million to date. Its distributor, Focus Features, will add more than 400 theatres this weekend, taking the count to about 2,100. "Going into the weekend and hitting the 2,000 mark accomplishes our ultimate goal, which was to be the widest we could possibly be in concert with the Academy nominations," said Jack Foley, Focus Features' president of distribution. Warner Independent Pictures' Good Night, and Good Luck will add more than 800 theaters, advancing the total to about 920 — its widest release so far. The George Clooney-directed drama has grossed $25.1 million to date. "The plan was always to relaunch the film after the nominations," said Steven Friedlander, WIP's executive VP distribution. "It gives the film an opportunity to be seen by a wider audience."

Universal Pictures' Munich was the only major studio film to be nominated for best picture. The Steven Spielberg-directed thriller was in 980 theaters this past weekend and will expand to about 1,120 venues Friday. Through last weekend, Munich had grossed $40.6 million.

We're hopeful that the nominations will give the film continued visibility, which will prove to be a favorable result at the box office," said Nikki Rocco, Universal Pictures' President of distribution.

Sony Pictures Classics' Capote has grossed $15.3 million so far and was in 325 theaters last weekend. With five nominations to its name, Capote will strike out this coming weekend to about 1,200 theaters. "We felt very confident about (Philip Seymour Hoffman's) performance from the very beginning," said Michael Barker, co-president at Sony Pictures Classics. "And we had always planned to expand on February 3, using the strategy of getting the best picture nomination. I think ultimately we will more than double the gross we have now." The film that won best picture last year was Warner Bros. Pictures' Million Dollar Baby had seven nominations under its belt. At the point of being nominated, Baby had not been in more than 147 theaters and had grossed $8.3 million. But the weekend after the nominations, the Clint Eastwood-directed film jumped into 2,010 theaters. It ended up with $100.4 million.

Last year's leading contender was Miramax's The Aviator with 11 mentions. The Howard Hughes biopic had collected $58 million when nominations were announced, and it pulled in $102.6 million.