Monday, August 20, 2012

"2016: Obama's America" beats Batman, Bourne in earnings

(Washington Examiner) Surging popularity in the anti-Obama movie "2016: Obama's America" has dramatically boosted the number of theaters showing it, making the film the second biggest money-maker per-theater behind the the "Expendables 2," the nation's No. 1 flick.

Having opened last month in just a single Texas theater and facing complaints from the president's supporters, the "2016: Obama's America" was shown in 169 theaters last weekend is slated to be in 800 this weekend, producers tell Secrets.

Just as shocking: Over the weekend it earned $7,391 per theater, topping huge hits like "The Dark Knight Rises," "The Bourne Legacy," and "The Campaign." Last weekend, it earned $1,249,000, a 293 percent one-week surge. "Expendables 2" earned $8,670 per theater, tops in the country. What's more: It was the 13th overall money maker last week, following a movie that was showing in over 1,100 theaters.

"2016: Obama's America" is based on the conservative author Dinesh D'Souza's book "The Roots of Obama's Rage," and suggests that the president wants to downsize the influence of the United States.

Producer John Sullivan told Secrets that it is popular because "people are looking for a different narrative on Obama than they are getting from the mainstream media."

Sullivan added that the movie isn't just doing well in conservative markets. He said that the highest-grossing showings have been in Manhattan and Los Angeles.

The timing of the movie's expansion and popularity isn't good for the president, though critics have suggested that it is preaching to those already opposed to Obama.