United 93 Opens with Strong Numbers
United 93 grossed $11.6 million opening weekend, only topped at the box office by the family comedy R.V.
Moviegoers showed up in strong numbers to watch what TIME Magazine called "unmissable." United 93 grossed $11.6 million opening weekend, only topped at the box office by the family comedy R.V.
Critics and Christian leaders have given the recount of 9/11 rave reviews and so have movie patrons who sought to find what happened on the day that changed America. Although hard to bear, the Sept. 11 film had the highest per-theater average among major new releases. While R.V., which opened in twice as many theaters as the dramatic film and averaged $4,506 per screen, United 93 had an estimated per-theater average of $6,465.
United 93 received 76 percent approval for this being the right time to retell the story, according to a poll conducted on the movie website.
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Even families of the victims who went down in the hijacked plane crash wanted the film to be made. Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Greengrass, director of United 93, went to the families, who cooperated in the production, first when making the emotional film.
"They clearly feel that it's the right time," said Greengrass, "so we should listen to what their story is."
Re-enacting in real time the dramatic story of what happened in the air in the fourth hijacked plane and on the ground where flight controllers watched the tragic events take place from a distance, United 93 opened in New York during last week's Tribeca Film Festival. There, the parents, siblings and spouses of the victims walked the red carpet along with Hollywood celebrities, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The Times reported from moviegoers interviewed that it was the participation of the families that prompted them to see the film.
It was also well received by Christian leaders who pointed to the history and larger conflict between religious groups.
Movie Entertainment, the company that led outreach campaigns for The Passion of the Christ and The Chronicles of Narnia, is doing outreach to faith leaders and educators. In addition to leader screenings to help stir discussion within religious, educational and cultural circles, the company has created a variety of "teaching and preaching" resources which are available at www.U93.org.
