Licorice Pizza 27 Locations Set For Added Pop Up Screenings

These one-night only engagements are in addition to the very successful continuing initial dates for the film — three in New York, one in Los Angeles. This weekend saw the film only drop about a third from last weekend, indicating a very strong response to the coming-of-age period film, more so since those opening numbers included Thursday night preview shows as well as a holiday Friday. Near sell-outs occurred in many of the dates, which saw a gross of $223,000. (To show how exceptional this is: two other specialized releases, “Wolf” (Focus) and “Benedetta” (IFC), grossed about the same in 510 theaters.)

“Licorice Pizza” will expand nationally on December 25, tentatively somewhere around 2,000 domestic theaters. Although the delay in a wide release rather than a slow or early wide rollout has surprised some, Christmas week is a much better period to reach moviegoers, and the choice to hold its initial dates supports the notion that interest remains strong. These limited showings, likely to sell-out immediately, will only help underscore that interest. Alana Haim, the breakout lead actress in the film, surprised patrons in Austin, Texas on Saturday night by attending screenings there. The increased number of showings nationally may increase the chances of similar events elsewhere. While continuing its play at the AMC Lincoln Square, City Cinemas Village East, and Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn in New York and the Regency Village in Los Angeles, the following theaters will each have a single showing this Saturday at 7 p.m., including three which previewed the film last Saturday: Tickets, while they last, are available through individual websites and through United Artists’ website.