London-based Hammer Film’s ghost story “The Woman in Black” has shattered box office expectations during its three day opening weekend in the US, grossing just over $21m.
The film, based on Susan Hill’s classic novel and starring Daniel Radcliffe, opened on almost 3000 screens through CBS Films, raking in a per screen average of approximately $7,400. The film also took the number one position in the Canadian box office.
According to the press release, “The Woman in Black”‘s three-day weekend gross makes the film the highest opening ever for a Hammer film in the US and one of the very few British films that has broken the $20m opening weekend threshold.
The exceptionally strong US box office weekend–which was up over 35% on 2011 figures–is particularly noteworthy because it was Super Bowl Sunday, a box office weekend that is traditionally weak.
Also noteworthy about the film, directed by James Watkins, is that it is the Hammer’s first ever feature ghost story.
“We are delighted that ‘The Woman in Black’ has performed so well,” said Simon Oakes, President and CEO of Hammer and Vice Chairman of Exclusive Media. “The fact that a gothic horror has attracted such as large audience on opening weekend shows the demand for elevated and intelligent genre films which Hammer aims to produce.”
Nigel Sinclair, CEO of Exclusive Media, Hammer’s parent company, also said, “This follows on a strong performance for ‘Ides of March’ and reflects our commitment to great artists and great movies; I congratulate our partners CBS Alliance and of course Cross Creek pictures.”
Tobin Armbrust, President of Worldwide Production & Acquisitions of Exclusive Media, said that they are pleased to be able to share in the success of the film. “We are thrilled to share in the success of THE WOMAN IN BLACK with our close family, Daniel Radcliffe, Jane Goldman, James Watkins and the entire cast and crew who all worked incredibly hard on this great project,” said Armburst. “Hammer is one of our key production brands and to see it embraced in the US is a great show of support for its production philosophy.”
Watkins said he was glad American audiences have come to see the film. “I’m thrilled that a British ghost story, made with a British cast, crew and investment, is playing so well with American audiences,” he said.
