Michael Moore's film Farenheit 9/11 was the first documentary ever to top the box office. This is amazing because it played on less than 900 screens, which is half the number of screen for many of the movies it competed against this weekend. Also, it broke the record for the highest grossing documentary of all time. The old record belonged to Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Columbine made 21.6 million during its entire theatrical run. Farenheit 9/11 made 21.8 on the opening weekend. That is astonishing to say the least.
This movie is obviously going to reach a larger audience than expected, and will reach many undecided voters, and probably many moderate conservatives. So, for those that felt that this movie would change no minds, think again, and, well, eat it.
The movie is going to be on double the screens by next week. This movie will probably make 50 million. And maybe with enough word-of-mouth advertising it could break 100 million dollars. Moore had this to say:
"These are mind-blowing numbers. All the predictions were that the movie would only speak to the choir, that it would only be for those who don't like Bush. I don't think that turned out to be true."