Distributors ponder Oscar bump

UPDATE MAR 3: On Monday morning (3) Fox Searchlight executives were busy locking in more theatres to push out New Regency’s best picture Oscar winner 12 Years A Slave.

With the biggest award of the night under its belt, as well as senior awards for adapted screenplay for John Ridley and supporting actress for Lupita Nyong’o, Searchlight distribution executives will expand the 411 count to 1,000 on Friday (7).

12 Years A Slave has amassed $50.3m in North America to date and comes out on DVD on Tuesday (4). While this is already an impressive number for a difficult film, those behind the release clearly see opportunity to parlay success into broader exposure.

The same could be said of the film’s international performance. Lionsgate International handled sales and thus far its markets have returned approximately $90m – an exceptional result that looks likely to keep on growing.

Similarly Dallas Buyers Club’s $25.3m domestic haul through Focus Features would appear to offer considerable potential, given that it now boasts the best lead actor and supporting actor in the form of Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. It also won for make-up and hairstyling.

The film remains in theatres and it is understood Focus will add screens although details were unavailable at time of writing.

Voltage Pictures handled international sales and company head Nicolas Chartier – a previous Oscar winner with The Hurt Locker and an executive producer on this film – structured the financing.

Dallas Buyers Club is already on DVD and VOD and said to be performing above expectations – although sources at Focus Features declined to give numbers.

Best documentary Oscar winner 20 Feet From Stardom is still playing theatrically through RADiUS and has grossed $4.9m, making it the biggest music documentary since 1999 release Buena Vista Social Club finished on a little over $7m.

RADiUS chiefs Tom Quinn and Jason Janego plan to expand the theatrical footprint and further details will emerge in the days to come. It is also on offer on VOD and digital platforms.

As for Warner Bros’ Gravity, which brought home seven Academy Awards including best director for Alfonso Cuaron, and Frozen, Disney’s winner for animation and original song, it remains to be seen whether the studios can coax any more dollars out of film-goers.

Both titles have delivered huge results at the box office. Gravity stands at $270.5m in North America alone and a further $434m internationally, while Frozen crossed $1bn worldwide on Oscar day and has amassed $388.7m in North America.

That Frozen crossed $1bn and won two Oscars on the same day means it has carved out a unique place in the pantheon of Hollywood success.