Monty Python Live reaches $6.6m box office

Picturehouse Entertainment’s live broadcast of the July 20 Monty Python Live (mostly) show has reached a worldwide box office figure of more than £4m ($6.6m) including encore showings, attracting an audience of more than 330,000 to 3,000 screens across 52 countries.

There were more than 100,000 admissions recorded in North America with Picturehouse Entertainment working with all the major cinema circuits and the network of independent and not-for-profit venues.

Europe saw more than 85,000 admissions, with results in Germany especially impressive with a screen average of €4,500 ($6,000).

Finland broke its own records for alternative content, in terms of most participating venues and highest box office for any alternative content event.

The show also proved to be the highest grossing alternative content event ever in Portugal.

Results were also strong in Australia and New Zealand, with Melbourne’s Cinema Nova being the highest grossing venue, drawing A$15,500 ($14,500).

The UK & Eire gross box office was £1.6m ($2.65m).

Marc Allenby, director of distribution at Picturehouse Entertainment, said: “It’s been a privilege to be entrusted with the cinema release of such a historic event. The excitement and enthusiasm we’ve experienced from cinema operators and customers alike has been overwhelming - and the fantastic results we’ve seen from around the world reflect this.”

The show was the last of 10 performances by comedy troupe Monty Python’s Flying Circus at London O2. The reunion featured classic sketches and musical numbers with original members John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones. Late member Graham Chapman was represented by archive footage on screen.