|
"Bend It Like Beckham" Box Office News |
|
| Los Angeles, CA - March 17, 2003 | |
|
|
 Parminder Nagra and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers "Bend It Like Beckham." Photo ©2003 Fox Searchlight |
|
Fox Searchlight Pictures President of Distribution Stephen Gilula announced today that "Bend It Like Beckham" is the No. 1 platform release opening of 2003. The picture's three-day take was $161,528, which averages to $26,921 per screen -- the highest average of any film this year. It sold out multiple shows in most theatres Saturday and Sunday.
A smash hit that has already earned more than $50 million worldwide, "Bend It Like Beckham" is the third feature from award-winning writer/director Gurinder Chadha ("Bhaji on the Beach," "What's Cooking"). The film was released in the UK on 480 prints on April 12, 2002, and earned over $17 million U.S. at the UK box office, the most ever for a British-financed, British-distributed film. It topped the box office charts in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, won audience favorite film awards at the U.S. Comedy Arts, Locarno, Sydney and Toronto film festivals, and was nominated for Best Film by the European Film Academy and Best European Film by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Gilula said, "Fox Searchlight and the filmmakers are ecstatic with this tremendous opening for the first big indie hit of 2003. We look forward to continuing this strong box office momentum leading up to the national expansion on March 28."
A kaleidoscope of color and culture clash humorously as an Indian family in London tries to raise their soccer-playing daughter in a traditional way. Unlike tarty elder sister, Pinky, who is preparing for an Indian wedding and a lifetime of cooking the perfect chapatti, Jess' dream is to play soccer professionally like her hero David Beckham. Wholeheartedly against Jess' unorthodox ambition, her parents eventually reveal that their reservations have more to do with protecting her than with holding her back. When Jess is forced to make a choice between tradition and her beloved sport, her family must decide whether to let her chase her dream...and a soccer ball.
"Bend It Like Beckham" boasts an exciting array of British talent that includes newcomer Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley ("Pirates of the Caribbean," "Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace"), Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("Velvet Goldmine," "Prozac Nation"), Juliet Stevenson ("Truly Madly Deeply," "Emma"), Frank Harper ("Lucky Break," "Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels"), award-winning songwriter Shaznay Lewis (of pop group "All Saints") and, making his debut appearance in an English language feature, Bollywood superstar Anupam Kher.
The film is produced by Deepak Nayar, whose extensive credits include the Oscar(R)-nominated "Buena Vista Social Club;" and Chadha, whose debut film, "Bhaji on the Beach," won her numerous awards including the Evening Standard British Film Award for 'Best Newcomer to British Cinema' in 1994 and a BAFTA nomination for Best British Film. Her second film, "What's Cooking?," opened the 2000 Sundance Film Festival, earned Chadha a London Film Critics Award for 'Best British Director' and was nominated by the same organization for a 'Best British Film' Award.
SOURCE: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Previous Articles |
|
Explore Hollywood Movies
©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.
A part of The New York Times Company.