Milk Opens Big

The opening weekend grosses for Milk are very, very good.

Gus Van Sant's "Milk" scored a huge Thanksgiving opening, according to initial estimates from Rentrak early this afternoon. The Focus Features release, a biopic of gay rights activist Harvey Milk, grossed $1,381,484 on just 36 screens over the three-day weekend, for a $38,375 average. This ranks as the highest opening weekend for any film released in the range of 30-40 theaters (a record previously held by Focus' "Atonement"). Since opening last Wednesday, "Milk" has taken in an impressive $1,866,079.

On only 36 screens, the film ranked in the overall box office top ten. It sold out shows at all of its showings, finding particularly massive numbers at San Francisco's Castro (where it grossed $154,848 since opening), New York's Chelsea Clearview ($104,109), and Los Angeles' Arclight Hollywood ($101,095). Its lowest gross came from Miami's Aventura, where it totaled only $7,826 since Wednesday.

The film expands significantly this Friday, December 5, and Focus has reason to believe more good news is on the way. "Exit polls are extraordinary and demonstrate not only terrific word of mouth, but also that the film is playing gay/straight, over and under 35 and male/female," Focus' Jack Foley told indieWIRE. "Lots of group sales around the country and lots of sell outs in all houses. 'Milk' is successfully and competitively prepared, after the success of the Thanksgiving holiday, for it upcoming roll outs into the daunting holiday marketplace."

As evidenced by the above numbers, the line for Milk has been blocks and blocks long outside the Castro Theater.