The movie based on Barack and Michelle’s Obama’s first date had a lukewarm reception at the box office during opening weekend.
(Photo: YouTube screengrab)
Despite receiving glowing reviews from critics, “Southside With You” only made $3 million after premiering in over 800 theaters on Friday — putting it at number thirteen on the list of openings.
The film follows the story of when the couple went on their first date in Chicago in 1989 when they were young lawyers at the same firm.
(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“Southside With You” was best received in Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta and Dallas, the Hollywood Reporter noted Sunday.
Numbers are expected to climb over the holiday weekend.
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“A hit at Sundance, ‘Southside With You’ sports a superlative 93 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and will expand slightly for Labor Day weekend and play through the early fall as the country prepares to say goodbye to the Obamas at the end of their two terms in the White House,” said a spokesman for Roadside Attractions, who produced the film.
“We’re very happy with the opening.”
“We had sell-outs in many markets and the movie is playing to both an African-American audience and to arthouse audiences. The reviews have been better than anything we saw at Sundance and it will continue to play throughout the fall.”
However, Deadline does note that the movie had “one of the highest grossing starts, in terms of absolute numbers, for a specialty release.”