NYT: The Political 'Fahrenheit' Sets Record at Box Office

[stopbush]

Michael Moore's anti-Bush "Fahrenheit 9/11" became the highest-grossing documentary of all time on its first weekend in release, taking in $21.8 million as it packed theaters across the country this weekend.

The movie, mocking President Bush and criticizing his decision to go to war in Iraq, was No. 1 at the box office, beating out the popular comedies "White Chicks" and "DodgeBall," which were playing on almost triple the number of screens.

Theater owners in large cities and smaller towns reported sellout crowds over the weekend, with numerous theaters declaring house records.
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The phenomenal opening represented a decisive victory for Mr. Moore and for the Miramax movie executives Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who released the film independently after it was rejected by Miramax's corporate parent, the Walt Disney Company, as too political.

Here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/28/movies/28BOX.html?hp

[seabeyond]

1. how did they get all of the sunday numbers in

i think it is higher personally

[buycitgo]

2. they cut off after a certain point on sunday....be patient

some snips from story:

Harvey Weinstein said: "It's beyond anybody's expectations. I'd have to say the sky's the limit on this movie. Who knows what territory we're in."

"The biggest news to me this morning is this is a red-state movie," he said, referring to the state whose residents voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 election. "Republican states are embracing the movie, and it's sold out in Republican strongholds all over the country."

how great is THAT!

so much for the biased, lazy gasbags who were CERTAIN before it even opened that it would have NO effect on things, that ALL repugs who saw it would hate it.

I heard two pugs on WGN tonight who LIKED it a lot!

not one person who didn't like it SAW it, heh

[hlthe2b]

3. wonder if this will be the final nail in Eisner's "coffin," and

if the ABC crowd will continue as snippy as they have been towards Moore (probably get worse)

[emulatorloo]

4. Maybe now Steve Jobs will take over Disney, with Gore as his VP

And Gore's first priority will be to give an extreme-makeover to the ABC "news" division.

Well, I can fantasize, can't I?*

*The Reality behind my fantasy: There are rumors Jobs will take over Disney because of his fine work at Pixar, and Gore is on Apple's Board of Directors.