Box Office: Oscars Contenders Killed by Wide Releases

Studios are spending big to expand niche movies like 'Steve Jobs,' 'The Walk' and more into theaters sooner … and the results have been disastrous.

This story first appeared in the Nov. 13 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.

Steve Jobs

$7.1 million

Theaters: 2,493

A hit in four theaters, it tanked when it expanded Oct. 23. It then tumbled 65 percent in its second weekend.

Burnt

$5 million

Theaters: 3,003

The Bradley Cooper chef film abandoned a limited release in favor of a wide bow Oct. 30 — audiences sent the movie back.

The Walk

$3.7 milion

Theaters: 2,509

It went wide Oct. 9 after debuting in Imax-only. Its $10 million total is a career low for Robert Zemeckis.

Our Brand Is Crisis

$3.2M

Theaters: 2,202

Warner Bros.’ $28 million political film suffered the lowest nationwide start of Sandra Bullock’s career.

Rock the Kasbah

$1.5 million

Theaters: 2,012

Barry Levinson’s film opened wide Oct. 23 and delivered the worst debut ever for distributor Open Road.

Jem and the Holograms

$1.4 million

Theaters: 2,413

Universal’s microbudget musical debuted Oct. 23 to the lowest gross ever for a studio film on 2,000 screens.

Truth

$876,000

Theaters: 1,104

After flatlining in limited release, the Dan Rather drama expanded Oct. 30 — and earned less than $1 million.