Omar Chaparro has a hit on his hands…
Lionsgate/Pantelion Films’ Spanish-language film No Manches Frida, starring the 41-year-old Mexican actor, had a solid start over the Labor Day weekend.
The comedy opened in 362 locations grossing $3.65 million Friday to Sunday.
The comedy, from Lionsgate and Televisa’s Pantelion Films label, grossed $3.65 million in 362 locations from Friday to Sunday, with an estimated $4.65 million for the entire Labor Day weekend.
Starring Chaparro, Martha Higareda and Mónica Dionne had a three-day per theater average of $10,083, the highest of any film in national release and second-highest for the weekend overall.
It’s Pantelion’s second most successful opening weekend ever, behind only Instructions Not Included, which grossed over $7.84 million in its debut weekend in late August 2013 in 348 theaters ($22,547 average), going on to cume over $44.4M.
No Manches Frida outgrossed the label’s 2015 Labor Day weekend release Un Gallo con Muchos Huevos, which bowed in 395 locations, taking over $3.42 million ($8,670 PTA). It went on to cume over $9 million.
“Labor Day weekend has historically been very positive for us,” said Pantelion’s Paul Presburger Sunday morning. “We’ve been at the marketing of the movie for over a month using social media as well as Spanish-language television and radio…We knew we had something strong that would resonate with audiences.”
Pantelion’s Edward Allen, who helped spearhead the project, noted that the film has generated social media attention among younger English-speaking audiences in the run-up to this weekend.
“It’s resonating with fans that may not typically go to our movies,” said Allen.
No Manches Frida is a re-make of 2013 German film Fack ju Göhte. It’s the story of Zequi, a recently released bank robber who goes to recover stolen money buried by his ditzy accomplice before going to jail. They return to the site only to find that Frida Kahlo High has built a gymnasium over the loot. To get the money, he poses as a substitute teacher for a school that can’t seem to keep any teachers around. He meets the sweet and earnest Lucy, as well as an unruly classroom. Lucy and her fellow teachers have no control over the students, and Zequi comes in ready to lay down the law- but he quickly finds out that life on the inside may have been easier to deal with than a school full of wild and rebellious teenagers.
The film will open in Mexico in two weeks.
Added Presburger: “We’ll be supporting the movie this week with additional media, while talent will be down in Mexico to support the movie there.” No Manches Frida will expand next week, but specifics will be decided after the holiday weekend.