Fan-Funded “Veronica Mars” Earns 2 Million On Opening Weekend
By Kelsey Blair 03-20-2014
risten Bell in “Veronica Mars.” Photo Credit: Robert Voets/Warner Bros.
Veronica Mars, the record-breaking kick-starter funded TV show, has made the leap to the big screen.
The Marshmallows turned out to support the cult-TV show’s theatrical release, and made it a successful opening weekend for the film.
It earned a solid 2 million from 291 theaters in its opening weekend. This earns it a spot in the top 10 for the week. One of Warner Brother’s top executives, Jeff Goldstein, who is in charge of theatrical distribution is very pleased with the opening weekend numbers of this PG-13 pic.
The Veronica Mars franchise has opened the eyes of Warner Bros., Goldstein said “We recognize going forward that there’s room in the marketplace for huge movies, medium movies, and boutique films for a very specific audience.”
One of the biggest challenges this film faced was getting theater owners to take a chance and show it theatrically. Veronica Mars was also released simultaneously on VOD, and was free for Kickstarter backers who had contributed at least $35. In addition to that, it was made available for purchase or rental through digital download on iTunes and Amazon.
Releasing it on these other platforms could’ve caused a challenge in getting people to come out to theaters. However, the gamble paid off for the AMC theater chain that took the chance to show the film, in fact Goldstein says it was “hugely successful” for them in the end. Each theater averaged about $6,945 from this film this past weekend.
Creator of Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas, wrote: “My number one goal for Veronica Mars was to make our fans happens.” However, he goes on to say that of course he hopes the film goes on to sell a hundred billion copies opening weekend, and that there is indeed a number he has discussed with Warner Bros. that would make talks of a sequel easier.
On that note, where does the possibility for a sequel stand? Goldstein says, “In a week we’ll have a better sense.” They need to take a look at numbers from all of the locations that the movie was released.
Cross you fingers, Marshmallows, and hope that when all the data comes in, the movie has hit that magic number.