To qualify for Oscar voting, the Ernesto "Che" Guevara biopic unspooled a week ago for what was planned as one-week-only runs in single venues in New York and Los Angeles. The Benicio Del Toro starrer was set to withdraw from the marketplace before reappearing Jan. 9 in limited release as two separate films, the Cuba-focused "The Argentine" and Bolivia-based "The Guerrilla."
But IFC Films on Thursday said that last weekend's sellouts have spurred execs to add two more weekends of exclusive runs for the full "Che" version of the political epic, starting Dec. 24 in New York and Dec. 26 in Los Angeles.
"We thought 'Che' would have a great deal of interest, but to sell out in Los Angeles and New York City was even beyond our expectations," IFC distribution vp Mark Boxer said.
Meanwhile, theaters that have booked the two-part "Che" installments as separate films have agreed to carry both "Argentine" and "Guerrilla," with exhibitors likely to program the pics in ways that make viewing both on the same day as convenient as possible, Boxer said.
The films -- each just more than two hours long -- will bow Jan. 9 in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco before expanding to five additional markets the following frame. By Jan. 23, the pics are expected to play in more than 50 theaters in the top 25 domestic markets.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter