Guess which new release drew the biggest per-screen average at the box office this weekend?
Here’s a hint – it involves a superhero, but only in the metaphorical sense.
“Waiting for ‘Superman,’” from the director of “An Inconvenient Truth,” rounded up $141,000 from only four theaters nationwide for an average of $35,250 according to boxofficemojo.com. Davis Guggenheim’s new film describes a crumbling public education system and pins much of the blame on teachers’ unions.
The film still has a long way to go before being declared a hit – it will likely expand to more theaters this weekend, and the press buzz around the film won’t last forever.
But for now, it looks like there could be an appetite out there for a documentary revealing the troubles surrounding modern education. The film clearly hit a nerve with uni0n supporters – just ask Kyle Smith.
Note: LA Times blogger Patrick Goldstein takes conservative film critics to task for embracing the film.
(Photo: Daisy in “Waiting for ‘Superman’” - Photo credit: Lara Porzak © Public Education Pictures. All Rights Reserved.)
Related posts:
on 
on 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I am a little leery of “Waiting for Superman” because of Davis Guggenheim. While I am glad that a liberal has made this film so that it can not be easily dismissed by other liberals, I worry about how much of it is mere propaganda given that “An Inconvenient Truth” was stuffed full of convenient untruths and half-truths. Seeing the trailer only deepened my concern as all the scenes seemed concentrated on the DC public school system. DC was certainly the worst system until recent changes, but that allows critics to claim it as a fluke.
The film is part of a larger trend – consider “The Lottery” and “The Cartel” – but with Guggenheim’s name attached this one will get the most attention.
But you’re right – documentaries cannot be trusted at face value … best to read up on the pros and cons behind the film before fully rallying around the cause. But I suspect “Superman” is on to something major, especially since the director “crossed” party lines to tell the story. I’m guessing that wasn’t easy for him.
No doubt about the face value distrust, but considering Guggenheim’s evolved from Inconvenient Truth to Superman, with the beyond-awesome It Might Get Loud bridging the gap, me certainly likey, a lot.