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BILB gets full national release in the US
After an incredible 19-week run in the US that has beaten all industry expectations, Gurinder Chadha's hit soccer comedy Bend It Like Beckham will go into a full national release on August 1, entering more than twice as many theaters as it has played in thus far. Distributor Fox Searchlight, which has already grossed $25.9 million in North America from the low-budget film, announced the film will widen to about 1,200 theaters. Currently in 155 theaters, BILB reached its widest point of distribution on May 9, when it was screened in 555 locations.
Searchlight is making the unorthodox move of expanding the film this late into its release in an attempt to take advantage of changing market conditions. With most big-budget summer films having no staying power this season, and a plethora of similar films in the action genre due for release, the distributor believes moviegoers want something different, more character-driven and less reliant on special effects.
Besides, actress Keira Knightley, who plays the best friend of Parminder Nagra's character in BILB, has become a high-profile star with her turn opposite Johnny Depp in the blockbuster Pirates Of The Caribbean, which has grossed a towering $132.2 million within 12 days of its release.
Over the weekend, BILB grossed an estimated $300,000 for a $1,935 average per theater and has spent the last 17 weekends in the Top 20 peaking at number nine. Produced at a cost of about $5.5 million, the British-Indian comedy has grossed $70 million at theaters worldwide making it one of the most profitable films in recent years.
Chadha has already begun pre-production on her next film Bride And Prejudice, starring Aishwarya Rai and New Zealand actor Martin Henderson.
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