Entertainment

Could Sarah Palin’s New Documentary Now Be Coming to Your Theater?

The complete details aren’t yet out yet, but Politico reports that “The Undefeated,” the recently-released documentary about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will be hitting theaters in more cities soon. According to ARC Entertainment, the film’s distributor, the wider release is scheduled to occur later this month.

While various critics had an unfavorable view of the film, audiences in some target markets responded positively. According to the distributor, in Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver and Indianapolis the film needed to be moved to a larger screen so that crowds could be accommodated. Critics, though have questioned whether or not “The Undefeated” was a flop — or a success.

For example, CNN’s Richard Corliss isn’t a fan:

The movie may tempt even the most ardent conservatives to emulate their idol’s tenure as governor and walk out halfway through.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy agrees:

“A partisan piece stitched together using positive sound bites about Sarah Palin that will get media attention simply for its subject, though it isn’t a must-see film by any means.”

While reviewers will have their opinions, the real question is: Has the film been successful, financially speaking?

As Politico notes, most documentaries are only released in New York or Los Angeles and in specialized art theaters. “The Undefeated” takes a more non-traditional path, as it has been released on screens in AMC Theaters (a well-known national change). Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com says, “In the most basic sense, anytime a documentary is selling out screens in a movie theater, it’s already successful.”

Certainly, Contrino’s point is a valid one. So, what about the finances? According to Politico:

The film opened in 10 mid-sized cities Friday and grossed about $70,000 for the weekend for a per-screen average of about $5,000, the distributor reported. Based on average U.S. ticket prices, that works out to a very rough estimate of less than 9,000 people paying to see “The Undefeated” in its first weekend.

Politico does draw a distinction between the Palin film and other documentaries like it:

More on point might be a new documentary about the hip-hop act A Tribe Called Quest, which averaged $6,500 per screen in 22 locations, or the new documentary by Errol Morris, “Tabloid,” which opened in 14 locations and averaged $7,200 per screen.

Another conservative documentary, Ben Stein’s “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” opened in 2008 at more than 1,000 locations and grossed $2.9 million, a per-screen average of $2,800.

“The Undefeated,” while it has so far not grossed as much as the aforementioned films, was rushed to theaters and, according to ARC CEO Trevor Drinkwater, the film was mainly promoted over social media. Substantial monies weren’t poured into traditional marketing. In a news release, he says:

“We expect word-of-mouth to keep ticket sales strong and we will definitely expand the film to a wider national audience.  With merely three weeks of preparation and a virtually non-existent traditional advertising spend, the film did exceptionally well.”

The Hollywood Reporter sheds some light on some of the impending expansion plans:

This Friday, the film will open in additional AMC Theatres in Tucson, Ariz., West Palm Beach, Fla., Milwaukee, Wis., Charlotte, N.C., and Ontario, Calif. The film will also expand into additional theaters in Atlanta and Phoenix while continuing to play in Dallas and Houston, Denver, Orlando, Fla., and Orange, Calif.

The film will likely reach additional cities and localities in which audiences lean more conservative (after all, doesn’t this make sense?). You never know — the film may just find its way to your town.

Comments (104)

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  • BurntHills
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:43am

    we drove 5 hrs, waited another 4 hrs because it was SOLD OUT, and we had a quiet visit to the OKC Bombing memorial while we waited. at least try to SEE the movie, it is AMAZING.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • Marylou7
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:39pm

      I intend to see it if it ever gets close to me. Hopefully it will draw larger and larger crowds so they will expand the number of theaters.

      Report Post » Marylou7  
    • mensaman62
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 6:51pm

      I would like to see it also but I live in NJ so it won’t get close to here.

      Report Post » mensaman62  
  • TheDebtWeAllPay
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:23am

    Please no there is no need for that

    Report Post » TheDebtWeAllPay  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:14pm

      I am rally disappointed in Sarah. She seems like a sellout. First she quit being Governor, then She quit her bus tour, then her TV reality show and now this. Seems to me that Sarah is just cashing in. Her overexposure will backfire. I am not liking this.

      Report Post »  
    • MinorityRightsAdvocate
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 1:44am

      So you think she should have stayed on and Gov and let the taxpayers pay for the constant frivolous lawsuits against her? And while she was increasingly pre-occupied fighting these attacks and less able to do the job? If she stayed, I‘m sure you’d still be critical, claiming that she wasn’t doing the job, and that the taxpayers had to pay the bills for all the legal fees from the attacks! You see, you just hate, and will find a way to be critical no matter what! Why do you hate women? If it were Obama, you’d be racist, so for Sarah, you must hate women, same flawed logic.

      http://minorityrightsadvocate.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/the-modern-feminist-left-wing-movement-not-about-femininity-at-all-it-is-about-power/

      Report Post » MinorityRightsAdvocate  
    • notreally
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:16am

      Notice that many posters sound like what Rush would classify as “seminar callers”: pretend to be concerned about too-much-Sarah because it may hurt the conservative movement? In actuallity, it will take Sarah the rest of her life to clear her reputation from the vile trashing these people and the media have inflicted upon her: but they only display their blind hatred because Sarah is a threat to their socialist agenda.

      Report Post »  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:22am

    She’s formidable no doubt. I want to see her as Secretary of the Interior or State. She is 100 times more qualified than Clinton. She does not have the credibility gap (Canyon) that the progressives do.
    She has credibility- What the obama admin has none of.

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • countrysideflair
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:13am

    I haven’t seen the movie… but I really want to. We live near Olympia , WA… so hopefully it will make it there. My favorite movie critic website is RottenTomatoes, which essentially compiles all the reviews from a large pool of MSM critics. Sadly, the MSM is all liberal and “The Undefeated” was defeated with probably the first ever 0%. The bias is so blatantly in your face – it is a wonder so few see it.

    Report Post » countrysideflair  
  • adastra2005
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:06am

    I’m not a Palinista. I went to see the movie out of curiosity and to see her from a different viewpoint than the media. I gotta say, I was laughing to myself. As I watched, I imagined a similar movie made about our current President. Parents are socialists at best but most likely communist. Raised for a time in the muslimm faith in Indonesia, mentored in his early teens by an admitted communist, smoked pot and snorted coke . . . maybe even sold it, sought out radicals/socialists/blacks in college. Then as a “lawyer” defended ACORN/Project Vote, learned and taught Saul Alinsky approach to mob disruption and demonization, aggravation and anger. Announced his first campaign in the living room of a terrorist (whereas Palin announced in her kitchen). Surrounds himself with liberal/socialist types who’ve never worked in the private sector. MANY who are proud to say they admire/respect the likes of Mao and Castro. Spent 20 years in Wright’s church but evidently never heard what he said. And even though he’s the smartest man in the world, for some reason (maybe he just doesn’t like to brag) has ALL his school records locked up. Then a few years as a state legislature, a couple years as a US Senator (he campaigned for about 3 of the 6 years) . . . no executive experience, no tough choices, no negotiations really (unless one considers Alinsky background in negotiating), never did much in any of his legislative positions, and never worked in the private sector.

    Report Post »  
    • riverwomansdaughter
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:51pm

      AND we could see these two movies back to back – a double feature! What a great idea! (The theaters would rake in the $$$ from both sides…)

      Report Post »  
    • sempek1
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 3:21pm

      You are so right! What a comparison. Let‘s make sure Sarah’s movie is seen and seen and seen. She would make a fantastic president, cabinet member, VP, whatever. This country NEEDS her courage. Forget the “little Prince” Obama and his elitist liberal minions. Forget the Bill Maher’s who can only mock and destroy with their narrow lives. Obama can raise $300 million and buy off half the country, media, politicians and still loose because he’s a fraud. The truth has a special “ring” and he can’t hear it.

      Report Post » sempek1  
  • WakeUp
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:48am

    Would anyone really expect the propaganda press to give it good reviews? The reviews are more a symptom of the critics lack of quality than that of the movie.

    Report Post »  
  • Bealzobama
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:22am

    I will vote for Sarah any day….twice a day.

    Report Post » Bealzobama  
    • SARAHISTHEONE
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:23pm

      Three times a day!

      Report Post »  
    • concreteblue
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:12pm

      Typical election stealing CONservatives….

      Report Post »  
    • SHOWMESTATEGUY
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 3:08pm

      CONCRETEBLUE—
      Never thought I would say thank you to a dem. But I must give credit where credit is due. The dems have shown us the way. Vote as many times as possible, in as many polling places as possible. You don‘t need to have a voter ID and I hear that in some precincts you don’t even have to registered, or alive for that matter. Thank you dems, you have shown the slow learning conservatives the progressive approach to voting.

      ). Thank Youl.

      Report Post »  
    • PAINESMAN
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:07pm

      Fantastic idea. I usually vote only once cause its tough to fit it in to my work schedule. But now that I’m unemployed and live next to 2 other states is it possible I could vote in all three in 2012. Anybody know how you go about it. Any democrats on here who could show me the ropes?

      Report Post »  
  • dictionmary
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:01am

    Can’t wait to see if the AMC theaters in NJ actually run it.

    Report Post » dictionmary  
  • EastCon
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:00am

    There is a lot in common between Harry and Sarah.. They are both magical. They both have huge followings. They both have evil adversaries. They both fight for truth and value family. They both will win in the end, even if it takes seven books and eight movies to do so.

    Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:15am

      And they both are made up fictional characters. Palin will be and say whatever she must to stay in the limelight and keep the money flowing from her fans. Perhaps someday she will actually do something.

      Report Post »  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:58am

    Won’t be in my theatre. Progressive town USSA.

    Report Post » KickinBack  
    • Jakenaz
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:54pm

      They are going to show it on PBS in September.

      Report Post »  
  • nysparkie
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:50am

    Two questions: 1. Is she gutting a Moose which I would love to watch.
    2. Is she in her rollerblade outfit which I would dearly love to watch.

    Report Post » nysparkie  
  • JRook
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:49am

    My comment is neither the individual or her fiction is worthy of comment.

    Report Post »  
    • GirlfriendGeek
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:56am

      Then why did you?

      Report Post » GirlfriendGeek  
    • kwatch
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:21am

      touche’ girlfriend. unfortunately narcissist/libs think their opinion will have empact on the rest of us happy people.

      Report Post »  
    • Bealzobama
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:26am

      That’s the most ignorant comment I have ever read.

      Report Post » Bealzobama  
    • BurntHills
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:47am

      and yet the dripping obamaites feel the need to leave their democrat zones to log on to the Blaze to remark on the Blaze — to demean and insult the Conservative Americans and deflect from their fuhrer-wannabe pos fraud communist obama.

      Report Post » BurntHills  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:05pm

      Easy now, people. You don’t have to be a “*******” to dislike Sarah Palin.

      There are plenty of staunch conservatives (like me) that can’t stand her either.

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
    • Banter
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:29pm

      Then you are going to hate my avatar.

      Report Post » Banter  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:44pm

      Banter
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:29pm
      Then you are going to hate my avatar.

      I didn‘t say I don’t like looking at her…
      Now, if that picture could talk, that would be a different story.

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
    • Banter
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:12pm

      Well, you are in luck Uncle because you can see her picture in this movie, and she talks!

      Report Post » Banter  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:19pm

      Yeah, but I don’t want to hear her talk…that’s my whole point. Is Bristol in the movie much? I might consider watching it, if she is. She is a cutie pie!

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 4:23pm

      @Bealzobama Certainly no worse that this one… ” I will vote for Sarah any day….twice a day”. But don‘t worry she won’t run cause she is making too much money doing nothing. @kwatch listen to Uncle Tom he reflects the polls.

      Report Post »  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:47am

    If theater personnel kept marching up to me every 45 seconds during the movie and presenting me with lawsuits and legal filings… YEP, I sure MIGHT get up and walk out half way through!!

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • fancydancy
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:35am

    Harry Potter is entertainment. Sarah Palin is truth…how can they be compared in success? Truth is never as popular with the masses as entertainment. Remember the Romans feeding the Christians to the lions for ENTERTAINMENT? We are being fed entertainment daily from the WH and very little truth. Which lie shall we laugh at next?

    Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:14am

      Palin is not truht, it is a vanity piece, there is no truth their just distortions. It is no more truth than putting lipstick on a hog and calling it a beauty queen.

      Report Post »  
  • BikerMickAG
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:30am

    Jackoffhearts – Of course YOU believe Harry is more believable, anything even remotely related to reality you just aren’t capable of understanding, after all, you’re a *******.

    Report Post » BikerMickAG  
  • million
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:28am

    This would make for an Oscar winning movie.

    http://allenwest2012.ning.com/

    Report Post » million  
  • Oldphoto678
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:27am

    I don’t care if it does well or not. Sarah Palin will never, ever be president, and neither will Bachmann!

     
    • ConservativeResponse
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:41am

      Sexist.

      Report Post » ConservativeResponse  
    • NOBALONEY
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:49am

      Only the future knows.

      Report Post » NOBALONEY  
    • EastCon
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:53am

      or Obama again…… we now know the truth.

      Report Post »  
    • LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:14am

      Not a Sexist … more like a … Realist

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:30am

      Sexist and racist .. bet you voted for Obama because he was black.

      If you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove you’re not a racist,
      you‘ll have to vote for someone else in 2012 to prove you’re not an idiot.

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • RiseUp_Or_ShutUp
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:32pm

      It’s not up to you. Palin is the most qualified president candidate.

      Report Post »  
  • MONICNE
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:14am

    This is just an invested intellectual property for the Palin family.

    The CD will probably be offered for a $100.00 donation if the Palins run for office in 2012.

    If she does not run, this will become a collectors item for future releases.

    TEA

    Report Post » MONICNE  
  • G.E.R
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:53am

    Palin should have released it as a B Comedy or a Silent Film. Then maybe it would have done better at the box office.

    Report Post »  
    • Mr.G
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:15am

      well aren’t you cute.

      Report Post »  
    • G.E.R
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:40am

      I have my moments

      Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:08am

      Actually Palin’s movie is the first one where the blind are thankful they have an excuse for not seeing it.

      Report Post »  
    • Jakenaz
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:17am

      The theatre I saw it in was full and the audience gave it a standing ovation at the end. That was the middle of Friday afternoon.

      Report Post »  
    • G.E.R
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:40am

      It must have been a very small theater

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:12pm

      Monicne,
      Thank you for using one of my top 3 favorite words in the English language…niggardly. My other two favorites, you ask? Well, okay, since you are so interested: hubris and hickory. Of course, when you say hickory, it has to come out more like “hick-ree”. That is just the bee’s knees, in my opinion.

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
  • Mr.G
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:48am

    I saw the movie Staurday in Indianapolis. A terrific look at an American icon IMHO. There were segments that brought tears to my eyes: what an honest and hard working individual can achieve with help from a team of like minded individuals and the horrible nature of the media and Democratic Alinnsky allies. A must see when you have the opportunity.

    Report Post »  
    • Neo Con John
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:17am

      MR.G,
      Your comment sums it all up in one portion of one of your sentences, please allow me to echo it:
      “What an honest and hard working individual can achieve with a group of like minded people”,
      This my friend is what we need to focus on in order to make the needed changes that need to be made,
      You sir are a member of a growing populous that will band together to make that change.

      Report Post »  
  • Sound The Trumpet In Zion
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:45am

    Of course the critics will demean it and put it down. They are nothing more than lame stream media puppets and they have to say that to do their master’s will. Also, I find that the more the critic doesn’t like it the better the film it usually is.

    Report Post » Sound The Trumpet In Zion  
    • BIGJAYINPA
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:58am

      Major surprise here..the Lamestream Media movie critics hate and pan a movie about Sarah Palin. These clowns are as predictable as a WWF match. Do these clowns even bother to see the film or do they just go to the computer and put their names on the pre-typed *******/Progressive talking points they are given every day? Let the public be the judge. If the film makes money it is a success, if it doesn’t it is a flop. But then making a profit and offering a product the public wants are concepts very foreign to most *******/Progressives…Just sayin’

      Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:58am

      The bottom line should be the earnings, not the critics. Some of the highest earning blockbusters were panned by the critics.

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • BIGJAYINPA
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:13am

      Can’t say ******* can I? Well, see what you have to say about this ************. Take that Mr/Mrs/Ms Censor!!!…Just sayin’

      Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
    • SimpleTruths
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:24am

      It would appear people are voting with their wallets. Less than 9000 people in 10 cities on opening day? A better name for the film would be “The Uninspiring”

      Report Post » SimpleTruths  
  • hauschild
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:44am

    Winning!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Jack of Hearts
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:49am

      Harry Potter 1st weekend takings $168.6million. Sarah Palin $70,000. Which witch is winning?

      Report Post » Jack of Hearts  
    • freedomofspeech
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:13am

      Jackofhearts, Harry Potter fictional, Sarah Palin non fiction. duh. anyway who can go up against Potter hes’ a wizard.

      Report Post »  
    • Jack of Hearts
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:16am

      Yes, but Harry’s more believeable.

      Report Post » Jack of Hearts  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:48am

      Haven’t done the ROI analysis, but, I‘m bettin’ harry cost a really big dime!

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • EastCon
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:57am

      There is a lot in common between Harry and Sarah.. They are both magical. They both have huge followings. They both have evil adversaries. They both fight for truth and value family. They both will win in the end, even if it takes seven books and eight movies to do so.

      Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 3:55pm

      @EastCon

      Of course Potter is based on a series of Children’s books and 1/2 term Palin can barely read. Also The Harry Potter movies did not stop half way through the fourth movie, pack up and go home like Palin did as Govenor.

      Report Post »  
  • studentofeib
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:38am

    Just sit back and watch,,,as usaul Sarah is a step ahead. After this movie makes its way around the country, she will be polling ahead of every one including “Barry the Hussien”…..Hope it finds its way to Branson ,, he he he

    Report Post » studentofeib  
  • elkslayer
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:31am

    I sure hope it comes my way in N.E. Az. I won’t travel 160 miles to see it.

    Report Post » elkslayer  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:25am

    One for the dvd player; not a theater.

    Report Post »  
    • Eblaze44
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:23pm

      I’m with you. I quit going to the movie theaters years ago – they are total rip offs.

      Report Post » Eblaze44  
    • PhilipJames
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 3:02pm

      $11,000-plus per screen weekend averages in Orange County and Phoenix

      SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — ARC Entertainment today announced “The Undefeated,” which chronicles Sarah Palin’s rise from obscurity to national prominence, will roll out to additional AMC Theatres (AMC) beginning on Friday, July 22nd.

      With sold-out runs and enthusiastic audience support on opening weekend, the film will roll out to new markets including Tucson, AZ; West Palm, FL; Milwaukee, WI; Charlotte, NC; and Ontario, CA. The film will also expand into additional theatres in Atlanta, GA, and Phoenix, AZ, and will continue in theatres in Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Orlando, FL; and Orange, CA.

      ARC Entertainment, the distributor of the film, announced today that the film had a stronger opening weekend than expected with the top markets, Phoenix and Orange County, achieving weekend per screen averages above $11,000 driven by multiple sold-out runs. The film was rushed to select digital theatres in only three weeks, and was marketed entirely through social media and grass roots efforts with virtually no traditional media spend.

      “Given the audience response on our opening weekend we now know we have a film that works. Our objective is very simple-to bring this film to every market and every corner of the country; starting with a limited theatrical release and then through an aggressive broader distribution strategy including stre

      Report Post »  
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