How long does the movie stay in theaters? The question, seemingly simple, is nevertheless difficult. Because the answers depend on several factors. As a rule, the film stays in theaters from 4 to 6 weeks (although this happens less and less in practice), but for popular blockbusters, this duration can be up to 3 months. Or even more so, in absolutely exceptional cases, such as the 1974 film Emmanuelle, which stayed in the cinema on the Champs-Élysées for 553 weeks.
An absolute triumph in theaters, it will obviously stay at the top of the bill for a long time, especially since if it does very well at the box office, it will most likely be shown in even more theaters and therefore more copies than originally.
It also has to do with the decisions of cinema operators who manage the programming of their cinemas, but it also has to do with the limitations of the exhibition windows imposed by the chronology of the media. In short, it’s a good puzzle.
If we look at the champions of the French box office, the audience figures are indeed sometimes very impressive. For example, Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis attracted 20.48 million viewers. But his career in the gym ended up being quite short: barely 22 weeks.
The first part of Avatar? 14.77 million viewers, but for “only” 19 weeks. Untouchable and its 19.49 million records? A huge success for the film which ended up staying on the screen for 22 weeks.
What about the United States? Well, we will not be grouped in the same category at all!
Avatar (2009)
With 2.7 billion dollars collected by his film AvatarJames Cameron has become the undisputed king of the box office, finally achieving success after the global triumph of his previous film, Titanic. The enthusiasm of the American audience was such that the film remained on the screen for 54 weeks, or 379 days. Avatar 2, while it was also a huge success with $2.32 billion, fared less well, staying on the screen for “only” 271 days.
Titanic (1997)
The thwarted love of King Leo and Kate Winslet on a ship Titanic Capturing the hearts of viewers around the world, apart from being a true technical tour de force. The film, which grossed $2.26 billion, ran for 54 weeks in the US.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Eddie Murphy’s highly iconic role that catapulted his career into orbit, Beverly Hills Cop ran for 56 weeks in the United States.
Back to the Future (1985)
Still need to introduce you to Back to the Future, this Robert Zemeckis-signed pop culture monument? An iconic work and above all transgenerational. The film, which was released in 1985, remained in American theaters for 78 weeks. Impressive.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Released in 1993, Jurassic Park was a turning point in film history, pioneering the use of computer-aided imaging in addition to being the founding film of a profitable franchise. It cannot be said that the American public gave Steven Spielberg’s film a triumphant reception: it remained in theaters for 81 weeks.
AND The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
masterpiece Steven Spielberg Bringing the audience to tears, ET is one of the master’s iconic films. It was released in US theaters on June 10, 1982 and remained in theaters for 81 weeks.
Gone With The Wind (1939)
An absolute classic of American cinema, Gone with the Wind is, to recall, The biggest box office hit of all time, if we take into account inflation. As such, it brought in over $3.44 billion. The failed love affair between angry Scarlett O’Hara and jealous Rhett Butler lasted… 107 weeks, or 749 days.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an absolute cult film that has been released multiple times since its first release in 1975. He stayed for 118 weeks.
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
It’s obviously impossible not to have a major pop culture film on such a list. In this case, the first part of the Star Wars saga, A New Hope. The work of George Lucas remained for 135 weeks. And to think that the leaders of 20th Century Fox absolutely did not believe in the success of the film…
The Sound of Music (1965)
And no, the absolute record isn’t Star Wars, it’s The Sound of Music! An absolute classic of the five-Oscar-winning musical comedy, Robert Wise’s film, directed by Julie Andrews, fresh off her Mary Poppins triumph, has been in theaters for no fewer than 147 weeks.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
