Exclusive: Paranormal Activity's Expansion Plans
Source:ShockTillYouDrop.com
October 10, 2009
Now that Paramount's
Demand It! site for Oren Peli's sleeper hit horror flick,
Paranormal Activity has officially hits its goal of a million demands, Paramount Pictures just announced what Shock knew a week ago (but weren't allowed to report), that the studio will open the movie nationwide on October 16.
What the press release doesn't mention is what we also knew exclusively earlier this week, that the studio has already been making arrangements to go even wider on October 23, adding another 1000 theaters to the number of theaters where it's opening this coming Friday. That decision could put the movie directly into competition with Lionsgate's seemingly unstoppable horror franchise
Saw VI.
Based on very early Friday estimates, Peli's low-budget movie is reportedly on its way to making over $5 million in its first weekend in limited release in just 159 theaters. That is a huge amount of business, possibly enough to put the movie into the Top 5 for the weekend.
With the amount of buzz the movie is generating, one can expect it will do similarly well in its first nationwide weekend, which may be why Paramount has already been working on making sure they can go even wider the following weekend. (Note: This was the plan earlier this week, and it might change suddenly due to the movie's immense success this weekend as Paramount might try to get more of those theaters on Friday, rather than waiting.)
Of course, what that means for the two other horror movies that had already been scheduled for those weeks--Screen Gems' remake of
The Stepfather and the aforementioned sixth "Saw" movie--is another question. Neither of the other studios had an inkling of any sort of potential horror competition when they booked those dates and Paramount's sleeper horror hit might wind up putting a kibosh on both of them.
Let us know what you think of these developments, and we'll keep you posted on whether those plans change.
Comments
Posted by: Rabba on October 10, 2009 at 11:40:59
Great to hear! I'll most definitely be going to a late night screening when it hits over here.
Posted by: Blwn2bts on October 10, 2009 at 12:59:59
I for one am glad that the Saw series will finally have some competition. To be honest, it has been stale and bloated for several years now, and I am sick of hearing about it every year. Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of it...
BTW, check out our version of what we expect Lionsgate's reaction to be:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZyndR1l3mjI/Ss-rUkFkCYI/AAAAAAAABVA/cDV6h_uySp4/s1600-h/paranormal-saw.jpg
Posted by: Saw is a dull blade on October 11, 2009 at 01:50:50
Between this Paranormal Activity and Saw, I wll see Paranormal Activity. To me, after Saw II, the series went straight down the swirling crapper. I went to see this because it is at least a bit more original, not a remake, and not a sequel.
Posted by: Saw keeps spinning on October 11, 2009 at 08:20:48
I know people can have there opinion about a movie but how can you call something that every year hits hit # in the box office. Obviously people are continuing to follow jigsaws games and want to know what is in the BOX. I think both movies will do well, but Paranormal is going to have the same outcome as Blair witch.. People only want to see it right now because its hard to find. they will rush out and see it week one and then it will flop the following week..
Posted by: Read Some Reviews Before Seeing on October 11, 2009 at 08:23:15
I have read about 25 reviews on this movie and 18 of them say that ALL the scary parts you see are in the trailer and the rest is just talking and running with a camera. A friend of mine drove 75 miles to chicago to see this move and hated it.
Posted by: lbj on October 12, 2009 at 15:43:48
Don't believe the Paranormal hype - you all are getting Blair Witch-ed by an overhyped con job spread by a bunch of willing handmaidens.
Posted by: The Movie Master on October 15, 2009 at 03:45:47
fuk u ya hackjobs da movie was insanely gud at being scary possible a little overhyped but scary none the less to those who havent watched it yet do urself a favor and see this wit ur friends or better yet bring ur chick cause i can tell u for a fact da ending to this classic is DEFINETLY NOT IN DA TRAILER !!!!!
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