'Parasite' sets record foreign-language location average in North American box office debut (update)

OCTOBER 14 UPDATE: Bong Joon ho’s South Korean Palme d’Or winner Parasite stunned in its North American opening weekend, grossing the highest location average ever for a foreign-language film and the highest in three years by a limited release.

The socially conscious thriller and international feature film Oscar submission opened at number 13, earning an estimated $384,216 through Neon in three theatres for a $128,072 average. No film has delivered a higher location average since Lionsgate opened La La Land in the December 9-11 2016 slot on $881,104 from five for a $176,221 average.

This is the sixth highest per-site average for a limited release in the past decade (2010–present, see chart below).

The calculation does not include platform releases of major studio tentpoles. Including those – Frozen on $243,390 from one via Buena Visa in November 2013, American Sniper on $158,364 from four via Warner Bros in December 2014, and Steve Jobs on $130,381 from four via Universal in October 2015– Parasite ranks as the ninth highest debut since 2009. It ranks as the 18th highest location average of all time, and the ninth highest of all live-action releases.

Warner Bros’ Joker held on to number one in its second session as $55.9m boosted the tally to $193.6m. The Addams Family arrived in second place via UA Releasing on $30.3m from 4,007 sites, and Paramount’s Gemini Man from Ang Lee starring Will Smith debuted at number three on $20.6m from 3,642.

Judy continued to perform strongly, dropping off 30% and one slot to number seven in its third session and grossing $3.2m for $14.9m through Roadside Attractions.

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