Commenting Rules: Keep the conversation civil and on topic. If your comment does not add to the conversation, it will be removed. Debate intelligently. Insulting the author, /Film, or other commenters will result in comment removal and possible ban. If you want to point out a typo, correction, suggestion or criticism for /Film, please email us instead. Please use your name or nickname and not your business name (ie Discount Car Parts) as we might confuse and mark it as spam. If you would like to have your own Avatar show up with your comment, sign-up for a free Disqus account. Any Links will go into moderation before being approved. Anything we deem as spam will not be approved.

Paranormal Activity Grosses $535,000 at Midnight in 33 Cities, Expands Next Week

Posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta

paranormal-activity

When Paramount Pictures announced that they were planning a viral limited release for the indie horror film Paranormal Activity, most people wrote it off as the studio dumping the film in a few theaters before the enviable dvd/blu-ray release. At /Film, we immediately saw the potential of the Demand it campaign, especially when it comes to small film distribution. This even prompted Derrick Comedy to launch their own Demand It campaign for the indie comedy film Mystery Team (Demand that Mystery Team come to your city now!).

This weekend, Paranormal Activity expanded to 33 cities. The campaign worked and the Thursday through Saturday midnight screenings sold out in all venues, earning a per screen of $16,000 for a total estimated gross of $535,000. Hundreds of thousands of fans across the country have voted for their cities on the Eventful Demand It website, prompting Paramount to expand to over 40-markets. Beginning next Friday, October 9th, Paramount will begin offering the movie at all hours, including the previous midnight only venues.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Comments 

Related Posts

Tags

Box Office, Dreamworks, Horror, Independent, Paramount Pictures, Release Dates, ,

  • Bullseye4hire
    Just saw this film last night. Most fun I've had watching a horror flick in a while. Low Budget+High Concept=Amazing Film
  • R3V3NG3
    Don't watch the movie it is terrible. Completely rips off The Blair Witch Project, but TBWP was much better. There is nothing to enjoy during 75% of the movie, the best part is 25% in and it is a short lived sequence. The large crowd didnt help at all, they wouldn't shut up and stop talking during the movie, and they laughed at the wrong times.

    They only set up this gimmick to demand it now cause they knew it was a failure. Don't let the studios win!

    Watch Zombieland instead and you'll thank me...2 totally different films, much more enjoyable.

    Or if you really want a good horror movie (not torture porn) watch:
    The Exorcist
    Quarantine
    REC
    The Blair Witch Project
    High Tension
    Trick r Treat
    Bug
  • traptlpluke
    I seen this movie at the seattle location at the neptune theatre....and its amazing...i would have to say one of my favorite scary movies i have seen....I am hoping it does well on the big screen...See it if you get the chance to in theatres
  • Hopefully we will get it here, perhaps in a major theater. One can only hope.
  • probot
    I find it irritating when a studio knows they have a hit like this in the palm of their hands and not release it wider so others can enjoy it. I mean what do they have to lose at this point? They've already made their money and then some. I don't have the time to drive down to LA on the week days cause I work a full time job. I can never see the weekend shows cause their always sold out. I think this might turn some people off.
  • icenineiv
    Yeah yeah, that's all great if you live in one of the top US cities, but when you live in middle of nowhere WV with one bloody theater, it kinda blows. That movie is never coming here.
  • RJBlakeAAU
    I really excited to see it. I haven't had the money to see Paranormal Activity yet (I spent my movie with week on "Zombieland" great decision). I'll probably catch it this weekend when it starts playing at all hours.

    I can't wait for The Mystery Team and I demanded that shit.
  • Wow looks promising. I'm just starting out as a film maker and it's nice to see studio support on more indie titles then I expected. Too bad about Mirimax though.
  • Come to Oklahoma, pretty please?
  • Tiwa
    I saw it drunk. People around me were flipping out, I had bruises on my knees from laughing too much.
  • Right on, brah!
  • AA5
    Saw it in Dallas on Saturday show although my crowd was not as good or as receptive as I'd hope, such as ppl cracking jokes during quiet tense scenes, I still had an awsome time. An ending I will not forget and still have not.
  • lenny
    Saw it at midnight Sat in Dallas and I thought it was well worth all the hype.
    Defenitly scary as hell!
    Love that more people will get to see it as most average goers no nothing about it yet.
    Should be the hit for Halloween not that damn Saw VVII crap...
    Just demanded Mystery Team and have my fingers crossed for a Dallas screen soon!
  • tricky808
    Thank God! I have been telling all of my friends (outside of the LA bubble) about it but no one has had a chance to see it without driving 6 hours. I'm all about the "DEMAND IT" movement. It's liberating for our movie-going hearts, yet informative for the often confused and curious studio heads. Gives us a chance to speak up and actually be heard. I digg it!
  • I'm very happy that Toronto will be part of the next expansion (it got more than 1000 votes over the weekend to jump from 13th to 4th). I look forward to seeing the film.
  • Joe
    I still wish I could request it specifically for my college, as there's no feasible way for me to see it without bumming a ride to Hartford, where I'm not even sure it'll play.
  • I'm really glad it's expanding -- I got to see it in NYC, SO much fun to watch with an audience, everyone was screaming and everything haha. The more times thing is good but I still think the midnight showing is the way to see it, way more fun. I'm curious as to how it will hold up on DVD
  • I don't know what all countries, but I know they sold the foreign rights to 52 different countries. So it should be getting released all over.

    It's bloody Brilliant BTW!
  • Name
    London! Please come to foggy London town.
  • It is impressive how buzz is slowly growing for this film. I'm hoping it does well there so we don't get it direct to DVD here in Australia. I'd like to experience it on the big screen.
  • December 3rd release in Australia through Icon. I've actually been looking into it today.
  • rockinrors
    Awesome!
    Thanks mate.
  • MylesL
    as am I.
  • Fan-bloody-tastic! I'm there.
blog comments powered by Disqus

gorilla nation

/Film

Copyright © 2010 /Film. Web design by Pro Blog Design. Logo Concept by: Illumination Ink

All names, trademarks and images are copyright their respective owners.