UNIVERSAL PICTURES' 'FROST/NIXON' OPENS TO THE BEST PER-SCREEN AVERAGE OF ANY FILM RELEASED IN 2008

UNIVERSAL PICTURES' 'FROST/NIXON' OPENS TO THE BEST PER-SCREEN AVERAGE OF ANY FILM RELEASED IN 2008

Limited Opening Vaults Drama to Incredible $60,236 Per-Screen Average in Its First Weekend

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- "Frost/Nixon", Universal Pictures' new electrifying drama, directed by Academy Award(R) winner Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man) and starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, had a remarkable first weekend at the domestic box office, it was announced today. Over the weekend, the film accumulated $180,708 from just three locations in New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto, for a per- screen average of $60,236. This figure gives "Frost/Nixon" the biggest per- screen debut of any film released in 2008.

(http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060316/LATH064LOGO)

"This is a spectacular opening, and we are thrilled with the result," said Adam Fogelson, President of Marketing and Distribution for Universal Pictures. "Ron Howard, his cast and crew created one of the best films of the year, and it is gratifying that audiences and critics alike are celebrating it with such enthusiasm. We look forward to bringing 'Frost/Nixon' to additional markets through Christmas so audiences everywhere can discover for themselves what has people crowding into these early theaters."

"Frost/Nixon" is currently playing at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 in New York City, ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles and Varsity Cinemas in Toronto, and it expands to 29 markets on Friday, December 12, before opening wide on Christmas Day.

Critics are also strongly behind the film. "Frost/Nixon" has a Rotten Tomatoes positive percentage rating of 92% among all critics, and it has scored 95% among top critics.

A Universal Pictures release, Frost/Nixon is the creative collaboration between Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Films, with Oscar(R) winners Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, American Gangster) and Howard joining BAFTA winners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner (Atonement, United 93) as producers of the drama. The film is written by Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland), who adapted his own successful stage play.

About Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com/). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal. NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060316/LATH064LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Universal Pictures

CONTACT: Michael Moses of Universal Pictures, +1-818-777-5926,
michael.moses@nbcuni.com

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

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