Sony Pictures Classics is increasing the number of theaters for Blue Jasmine from 229 locations to more than 1,200 on Friday, August 23, 2013, marking the widest release ever for a Woody Allen film.
The critically acclaimed drama, starring Cate Blanchett, has already earned $10 million at the box office, one of the best showings of the year so far for a limited release. In this, it’s reminiscent of the success enjoyed by Allen’s Midnight in Paris two years ago.
At its widest, that film played in 1,038 theaters.
Blue Jasmine is the 44th film that Allen has directed and the sixth to be released in the U.S. by Michael Barker and Tom Bernard’s Sony Classics.
In the movie, Blanchett plays a New York socialite who flees to her sister’s home in San Francisco when her wealthy husband faces financial problems. Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins and Peter Sarsgaard also star.
Blue Jasmine’s is hoping to serve as counterprogramming to three new films opening the weekend that appeal heavily to younger moviegoers: The World’s End, You’re Next and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.
It could, however, face competition from The Butler, which heads into its second weekend.
End Note:
The movie was critically acclaimed and one of Woody Allen’s most commercially successful movies, earning globally almost $100 million, against a budget of $18 million.
