The biggest movie box-office story this weekend will undoubtedly be the opening of Fahrenheit 9/11, the R-rated Palme d'Or winner from Michael Moore. (Say what you like about this film, you can't argue that it has a great poster.)
Among the records sure to fall are (1) Best opening day for a documentary; (2) Best opening weekend for a documentary; and (3) Highest gross for a documentary. The first, I think, is already toast. Many commentators have pointed this out in their discussion of the film.
However, to date I have found exactly one news story online - thank you, indieWire - that actually names the film that until now has been the reigning king of documentaries - holding all these records and more (for instance, opening in hundreds more theaters than Fahrenheit 9/11 did). That film, of course, is Jackass.
Check it: Opened Friday, Oct 25, 2002, on 2509 screens. Opening weekend box office $22.8m, total 4-week box office $64.3m. And for all of you worrying about the MPAA ratings game: it was R-rated, too. Blows all those other so-called hit documentaries right out of the water.
Until now. Requiem in Pace, Jackass - you're now #2.
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