'Fahrenheit 9/11' Turns on Box Office Heat
Wed Jun 23, 2004 08:38 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Director Michael Moore's controversial
documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" turned on the box office heat in its
first day in theaters breaking single-day records at the two New York
City theaters where it played.
The movie, which aims a critical eye at President Bush and his
prosecution of the war in Iraq, sold $49,000 worth of tickets at the
Loew's Village 7 theater, beating the venue's single-day record of
$43,435 held by 1997's "Men in Black," according to distributors Lions
Gate Films and IFC Films.
At the Lincoln Plaza theater, "Fahrenheit 9/11" took in more than
$30,000 to top the $24,013 set by "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in
2000.
A spokesman for Lions Gate Films said the company debuted the movie in
the two theaters to help build good word-of-mouth -- friend telling
friend -- publicity ahead of the wide debut on Friday when it plays in
868 theaters in all 50 states.
The film has caused a storm of controversy because director Moore,
whose past work includes Oscar-winning documentary "Bowling for
Columbine," makes a case that the Bush administration was determined
to invade Iraq following the Sept. 11 attacks.
The movie links Bush family members and business associates with
wealthy Saudi Arabian families, including that of Osama bin Laden, and
Moore clearly wants to see the president fail to win reelection in
this fall's presidential campaign.
Groups have organized support for and against the movie, and audiences
appear to be keen to see it.
Online ticket service Fandango.com on Wednesday reported that
"Fahrenheit 9/11" was making up 48 percent of advance ticket sales for
the weekend ahead, compared to 11 percent for "Dodgeball" and 9
percent for next week's "Spider-Man 2"
.
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