11/11/2005

UIP will have no problem confirming yet again its leadership of the UK theatrical market in 2005. Three of its titles Nanny McPhee, Wallace & Gromit, The Curse Of The Ware Rabbit [+see also:
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film profile] and Pride & Prejudice [+see also:
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Nanny McPhee and Wallace & Gromit were fighting the N°1 position last weekend with Emma Thompson and Colin Firth closely beating the ‘anti-pesto swat team’ with £1,656,113 gross from 421 screens against £1,624,310 from 499 screens for a total gross of £12,7m in three weeks for the Working Title Films and £28,7m in 4 weeks for the Dreamworks/Aardman Animation Features. Working Title’s other production Pride & Prejudice, the N°1 title in October is still holding well and has now reached £14,2m in 8 weeks.

Today, UIP is releasing two other potential high-grossers: the US rap movie and Sundance hit Hustle & Flow by Craig Brewer, but most importantly –for us- the UK/US/German/Canadian co-production The Constant Gardener [+see also:
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film profile] directed by Brazilian director of City of God Fernando Meirelles. Released on over 300 prints, The Constant Gardener which screened in competition in Venice, was the opening film of the London Film Festival last month and attracted a lot of media coverage with Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, and author John Le Carré attending the premiere. The film was praised by BFI Chairman and acclaimed fillmmaker Anthony Minghella for being "what a film should be: a celebration of international creative talents".
UIP’s next big opener for 2005 include Peter Jackson’s King Kong in mid-December. Last year, UIP continued to be the N°1 distributor in the UK with a 29,8% market share and the company released five of the top 20 UK films: Bridget Jones, The edge of Reason [+see also:
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film profile], Wimbledon, Shaun Of The Dead, Thunderbirds and Alfie.