Michael Moore's controversial new documentary 'Sicko' opens strongly
{{date|July 2, 2007}}
[[Image:200px-Sickoposter.jpg|200px|right|thumb|SiCKO theatrical poster]]
[[w:Michael Moore|Michael Moore]]'s controversial new [[w:Documentary film|documentary]] [[w:SiCKO|SiCKO]] opened to strong box office numbers in limited release over the weekend. The biting and sometimes humorous expose of America's health system earned weekend totals of [[w:United States dollar|US$]]4.5 Million on 441 screens, the second highest opening weekend numbers for a documentary ever, after Moore's own [[w:Fahrenheit 9/11|Fahrenheit 9/11]].

This follows last weekend's 'sneak preview' screenings of the film in 43 major markets. ''Fox News'' reports that all of these screenings were sold out. The latest documentary from [[w:Academy Award|Academy Award]] and [[w:Cannes Film Festival|Cannes Film Festival]] winning filmmaker Moore earned US$10,200 per screen, second in the weekend averages, and ninth in total sales. [[w:Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]] was the weekend's number one film with US$11,935 per screen (3940 screens) and top earnings of $47 Million. After only one weekend's limited release, SiCKO is now the fifth most successful political  documentary ever, behind Fahrenheit 9/11,  Al Gore's [[w:An Inconvenient Truth|An Inconvenient Truth]], [[w:Bowling for Columbine|Bowling for Columbine]], and [[w:Roger and Me|Roger and Me]]. Four of the top five are now by documentarian Moore.

SiCKO first opened at the [[w:AMC Theatres|AMC Lincoln Square]] in [[w:New York City|New York City]]. [[w:Fox News Channel|Fox News]] reported that the first screening's take was "possibly a record for an exclusive showing." Moore attended one of the [[w:Lincoln Square, New York|Lincoln Square]] screenings; his presence not known until he revealed himself during the standing ovation that the film garnered. The ensuing melee of enthusiastic fans resulted in a NYC fire marshal being called in to clear the theater, with Moore then participating in an informal question and answer session on the street.

Moore has appeared on numerous talk shows in support of the film, which [[w:The Weinstein Company|The Weinstein Company]] will roll out to 200 more theaters this week.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=moore070207.htm
|title=Moore’s New Doc Grosses $4.5 Million in Opening Weekend
|author=worldscreen.com
|pub=worldscreen.com
|date=July 2, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sicko.htm
|title=SiCKO Box Office Totals
|author=
|pub=Box Office Mojo
|date=July 2, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/boxoffice/;_ylt=Aj354UxN7CuKVRoWWicHe1dfVXcA
|title=Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.) Jun 29 - Jul 1 weekend
|author=
|pub=Yahoo!
|date=July 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286476,00.html
|title='Sicko' Socko at the Box Office
|author=Roger Freidman
|pub=Fox News
|date=June 25, 2007}}

==External links==
*[http://www.sicko-themovie.com/ SiCKO -The Official Site]

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[[Category:Culture and entertainment]] 
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
SiCKO theatrical poster
Michael Moore's controversial new documentary SiCKO opened to strong box office numbers in limited release over the weekend. The biting and sometimes humorous expose of America's health system earned weekend totals of US$4.5 Million on 441 screens, the second highest opening weekend numbers for a documentary ever, after Moore's own Fahrenheit 9/11.

This follows last weekend's 'sneak preview' screenings of the film in 43 major markets. Fox News reports that all of these screenings were sold out. The latest documentary from Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival winning filmmaker Moore earned US$10,200 per screen, second in the weekend averages, and ninth in total sales. Ratatouille was the weekend's number one film with US$11,935 per screen (3940 screens) and top earnings of $47 Million. After only one weekend's limited release, SiCKO is now the fifth most successful political  documentary ever, behind Fahrenheit 9/11,  Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, Bowling for Columbine, and Roger and Me. Four of the top five are now by documentarian Moore.

SiCKO first opened at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City. Fox News reported that the first screening's take was "possibly a record for an exclusive showing." Moore attended one of the Lincoln Square screenings; his presence not known until he revealed himself during the standing ovation that the film garnered. The ensuing melee of enthusiastic fans resulted in a NYC fire marshal being called in to clear the theater, with Moore then participating in an informal question and answer session on the street.

Moore has appeared on numerous talk shows in support of the film, which The Weinstein Company will roll out to 200 more theaters this week.
Culture and entertainment Film North America United States Economy and business