Majestic Numbers for 'The Illusionist'

Majestic Numbers for 'The Illusionist'

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- When the Yari Film Group expands their film "The Illusionist" to 971 theaters in North America today, it will be coming off two tremendous weeks at the box office with the film in limited release.

"The Illusionist," written and directed by Neil Burger and starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel, opened August 18th on 51 North American screens to a $18,203 per screen average, amongst the highest per screen averages for any film that weekend. The Arclight in Hollywood alone grossed $54,319 on the opening weekend, the 5th highest single theater gross in the country. Over the entire first week the per screen average remained impressively high at $26,727.

On August 25th, the film expanded to 144 screens and yielded a $12,745 per screen average for the weekend. Coming out of the weekend with a $1,835,240 three day gross and a $3,198,319 cume, the film ranked 14th in the box office despite being on nearly one-tenth of the screens as any film ahead of it. It lead both new releases and holdovers in the exclusive field in terms of the theater average. To date through the week (including numbers through Wednesday night) the per screen average is $17,191. This is the highest theater average for any film this week. The total cume to date is $3,838,553.

The film has been benefiting from extraordinary word of mouth. Nationwide exit surveys show that 96% of Americans polled rate the film either "excellent" or "very good." Furthermore, 88% of movie-goers would definitely recommend "The Illusionist" to friends and family.

Critics agree with audiences and have been giving the film spectacular reviews. Entertainment Weekly has deemed "The Illusionist" "The #1 must see movie of the week," while Joel Siegel has said "the movie is magic" for Good Morning America. The New York Times claims the film "rouses your belief in the miraculous" and "teases you until the very end." USA Today adds "'The Illusionist' casts a bewitching spell! Could not be more different from the big studio summer offerings! This suspenseful and stylish film has a welcome sense of originality. It's a pleasure to see Edward Norton deliver yet another remarkable performance. Proves that a film need not be mindless fluff to qualify as escapist entertainment."

Bob Yari is confident that critical and audience support will continue to carry the film to a successful first weekend in wide expansion. "We are thrilled to see both the audience reaction and the box office numbers reinforce what we've always known about this fantastic film, and are quite excited to bring the film to many more screens this weekend, introducing it to a huge audience that we know will love it as much as we do."

About The Yari Film Group

Founded in 2002, The Yari Film Group has established itself as one of the most successful independent film companies in Hollywood, with over 20 films produced over the last three years. Casting top-tier talent in compelling projects with consumer appeal, the company is dedicated to ensuring creative freedom for all of its filmmakers. The company's credits include Oscar 2006 Best Picture Winner "Crash," "Dave Chappelle's Block Party," "The Matador," "Thumbsucker," "Hostage," "A Love Song for Bobby Long" and "Prime" starring Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman.

In its new releasing venture, Yari Film Group has recently released the afore mentioned "The Illusionist," starting Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel, Winter Passing, starring Ed Harris, Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel in February of 2006, and "Find Me Guilty," a dramatic comedy starring Vin Diesel in March of 2006. Upcoming releases include "Haven," starring Orlando Bloom leading an all star ensemble cast including Zoe Saldana, Bill Paxton, and Joy Bryant; "First Snow," starring Guy Pearce and Piper Perabo; "Even Money," with an ensemble cast including Danny DeVito, Kim Basinger, Kelsey Grammer, Ray Liotta, Forest Whitaker and Tim Roth; and "Gray Matters," starring Tom Cavanaugh and Heather Graham. The company recently finished production on "The Hoax," a drama starring Richard Gere, Alfred Molina and Marcia Gay Harden and "The Painted Veil," starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. The company is currently in post-production on "Kickin It Old Skool," starring Jamie Kennedy, and in production with "Resurrecting the Champ," starring Samuel Jackson and Josh Hartnett.

www.theillusionist.com

Source: Yari Film Group

CONTACT: Isabel White of the Yari Film Group, +1-310-689-1456,
iwhite@yarifilmgroup.com

Web site: http://www.theillusionist.com/

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