Posted on 08/27/2004 11:22:05 AM PDT by truthandlife
Last weekend, Joe Camp's independently distributed movie, Benji Off the Leash!, took on the major Hollywood studios at the box office, and showed what a little dog with heart -- and a wholesome, family-friendly film -- can do.
Over its opening weekend, the new Benji movie outdid most other films currently in release by earning the second highest box office gross increase (65%) from Friday to Saturday. That indicates the tremendous buzz this family film is getting among moviegoers, and their growing excitement as word of mouth spreads.
"While most films are declining, Benji is going up," notes Camp, who turned down major Hollywood financial backing in order to maintain control and ensure the family-safe, positive-value content in the film.
Audience response so far has been a definite vindication. With a mere fraction of the advertising budgets films like Yu-Gi-Oh, The Princess Diaries 2, and other box office contenders, Benji Off the Leash! grossed more than $1.5 million in 872 theaters its first weekend and is continuing to rise. Ranked 16th nationwide, Benji was "top dog" in several sizeable markets, coming in among the top five for many theaters in the larger cities, and earning a per-screen average on par with Spiderman 2.
Spurred on by positive reviews from well-known critics like Michael Medved, Roger Ebert, and Ted Baehr, Benji Off the Leash! is continuing to build momentum and prove Camp right -- a clean, uplifting movie that teaches family values can succeed at the box-office.
Hate to throw a wet sponge on things, but come on...
The gain from Friday to Saturday is most likely based on the fact that it is a kid's film; Friday matinees are just not happening. The films it is being compared with were evening fare.
The claim that its per-screen takes were comparable to Spiderman 2 is just simply laughable disingenuous. When Spiderman 2 was newly released, its per-screen take was easily ten times Benji's. By now, theaters showing Spiderman are burning off the ends of their engagement contracts, or showing it as a secondary film.
I hope Joe Camp does will with his film, but this sort of press-release-wannabe from Agape Press hurts their credibility in a big way.
Hate to throw a wet sponge on things, but come on...
The gain from Friday to Saturday is most likely based on the fact that it is a kid's film; Friday matinees are just not happening. The films it is being compared with were evening fare.
The claim that its per-screen takes were comparable to Spiderman 2 is just simply laughable disingenuous. When Spiderman 2 was newly released, its per-screen take was easily ten times Benji's. By now, theaters showing Spiderman are burning off the ends of their engagement contracts, or showing it as a secondary film.
I hope Joe Camp does will with his film, but this sort of press-release-wannabe from Agape Press hurts their credibility in a big way.
OK, sorry for the double post... The article did not post at first, so I reposted and now they're both there.
I agree I believe it is a little over the top but I went to Agape Press website and had not even heard of this movie.
Since I heard about it, I am taking my kids. I posted it so that Freepers with kids could have a wholesome entertainment alternative this weekend.
Let me know if its any good.
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