Sunshine Cleaning Performs at Box Office

Amy Adams, Emily Blunt Indie Comedy Draws Big Opening Crowds

Mar 18, 2009

The story of two sisters who start a biohazard removal and cleanup service for crime scenes cleaned up at the box office during opening weekend.

Sunshine Cleaning, the dramatic comedy from Big Beach Films and Overture Films starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Alan Arkin earned $216,000 (U.S.) between four theaters in Los Angeles and New York in its opening weekend.

The estimated $54,000 (U.S.) per-theater average represents the best performance of any limited or wide release so far in 2009. The figure also represents an all-time high for Overture Films’ releases. This initial box office performance was generated at The Landmark 12 and Pacific Arclight 15 in Los Angeles and the Landmark Sunshine 5 and AMC Lincoln Square in New York City.

On Friday, March 20, the film’s release pattern will grow to 15 markets, in addition to greater expansion in the Los Angeles and New York City markets. Cities included in those markets include Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia. A week later, on Friday, March 27, Sunshine Cleaning will expand to at least 25 additional markets across the United States.

The film is directed by Christine Jeffs, one of Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” and the director of the biopic Sylvia. The dramatic comedy Sunshine Cleaning focuses on Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams), who resorts to cleaning up horrific crime scenes in order to support herself and her young son, and find some meaning in her life.

She includes her lazy sister Norah (Emily Blunt) in the new business, and enlists the help of her father (Alan Arkin) as a babysitter while she works. Challenged by the emotional, physical, and financial obstacles of the job, Rose frequently doubts her abilities and considers giving up the dream.

As they expand the business of cleaning up after murders and suicides, the two women meet different people, make new friends, earn some money, and learn more about environmental safety than they ever thought possible. They also come to understand each other for the first time in their lives.

About Overture Films

Kyle Davies, Overture’s executive vice president of theatrical distribution, said in a statement, “We are delighted that our aggressive word of mouth campaign, paired with favorable reactions from audiences and critics, have paid off in such a big way. We now have great momentum as we expand into more markets next weekend.”

Overture Films develops, produces, acquires, and distributes feature film length, theatrical motional pictures worldwide. The studio is a wholly owned unit of Starz Media. Overture acquired Sunshine Cleaning following its successful debut at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

The copyright of the article Sunshine Cleaning Performs at Box Office in Comic Films is owned by Leslie C. Halpern. Permission to republish Sunshine Cleaning Performs at Box Office in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.