UPDATED October 31st: WHIP IT BOX OFFICE RESULTS

***UPDATE FROM DAVID SAMS***

Updated on October 31, 2009:

Domestic Total for WHIP IT as of Oct. 29, 2009: $12,414,703. The film's production budget was $15,000,000. With prints and advertising figured in, the total cost to make and distribute this film was most likely around $30,000,000. Additional revenues will come from foreign sales and DVD rentals/sales. However, the theatrical box-office results are not favorable.

Previous Postings:

The box-office numbers are now in--through October 18th. WHIP IT has grossed just over 11.3 million dollars at the box office. The film may make back its 15 million dollar budget if it can remain in theaters for another couple of weeks. Unfortunately, with prints and advertising most-likely weighing in at an additional 15 million dollars, the movie will not make back its costs from its theatrical run. This, of course, does not take into consideration foreign ticket or DVD sales. I don't know how sales of this coming-of-age female empowerment flick will do overseas, but DVD sales should be brisk. Let's wish Drew much success.

Previous Post:

As of Wednesday, WHIP IT has grossed $5,645,888. The movie needs to pick up speed this weekend. Hopefully positive word-of-mouth will help fill seats. Otherwise, you may have to catch it when it comes out on DVD. Let's wish Drew Barrymore good luck this coming weekend.

Previously Posted on Monday:

WHIP IT did just under $5,000,000 in box-office receipts over the weekend. According to press reports, the studio was banking on $8,000,000 over the film's initial weekend release. On the plus side, the majority of filmgoers gave WHIP IT a great "A" rating. This should deliver good word-of-mouth.

The derby community cannot blame the lack of PR or marketing here. That's simply a cop out. Drew has done a fantastic job promoting this film. In addition, the film has had a nice paid marketing budget. Nor can the derby community all-of-a-sudden take the position that the film has little or nothing to do with roller derby. That, too, is a cop out. If the film would have raked in $20,000,000 in its first weekend, I suppose everyone would have jumped on the derby bandwagon.

I've been in Drew's position before. Producing a film or TV project is like delivering a baby. You put your heart and soul into it. Drew certainly has done that with this film. Generally speaking, it has received nice reviews. Even the audience that has seen it has given it high marks, according to press accounts.

Give Drew credit. Give the film an opportunity to grow in popularity. If, because of strong word-of-mouth, the film picks up speed this week, then theaters will stick with it (as long as they are selling lots of popcorn). Otherwise, the film will make its money back when released on DVD.

As for the future of roller derby, stay tuned. The marketplace has to be developed on a massive scale. It would have been better for the movie to have come out after derby has had high exposure on Television. More to come.

Remember, play fair in your comments. Drew has put her heart and soul into this project. Don't be a Monday morning quarterback--be supportive! If anything, offer constructive criticism that we all can learn and grow from.

That's my two-cents worth from Hollywood.

drs

Previously posted on Sunday, October 4th:

WHIP IT will gross $4,850,000, or $2,820 per screen, according to studio estimates for its first weekend in distribution. The film, directed by Drew Barrymore, cost just $15,000,000 to make. Business picked up considerably on Saturday night vs. its somewhat slow opening on Friday evening, when it averaged just $922 per screen. The key to the success of this movie will depend on strong word-of-mouth.

Previously Posted on Saturday night, October 3:

According to BoxOfficeMojo, WHIP IT grossed an estimated 1.6 million dollars at the box office on Friday, about $922 per screen (#6 overall). Zombieland was #1, grossing about 9.4 million dollars--or just over $3,000 per screen.

WHIP IT is showing on 1,720 screens.