"Dreamgirls" Breaks Record in Opening Weekend

By Andrew Gans
18 Dec 2006

Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles and Anika Noni Rose in "Dreamgirls."
Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles and Anika Noni Rose in "Dreamgirls."
Photo by Dreamworks SKG

Although it only opened in three theatres Dec. 15 — playing roadshow screenings at Manhattan's Ziegfeld Theatre, Hollywood's Cinerama Dome and San Francisco's Metreon — the new DreamWorks/Paramount film "Dreamgirls" has already broken a box-office record.

The New York Post reports that the film brought in an estimated $360,000, averaging $120,000 per theatre. That number is the highest per-screen opening ever for a movie musical. "Dreamgirls" is currently playing ten days at the three theatres with a $25 ticket price. The film, which was recently nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, will open nationwide Dec. 25.

The roadshow screenings feature reserved seating, "Dreamgirls"-themed lobby displays and merchandise booths and a limited-edition program.

Directed by Bill Condon, "Dreamgirls" stars Jennifer Hudson as Effie, Beyoncé Knowles as Deena Jones, Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson, Jamie Fox as Curtis Taylor Jr., Eddie Murphy as James "Thunder" Early and Danny Glover as Marty. Director Bill Condon also wrote the film's screenplay based on the late Tom Eyen's book. The film employs most of the original score by Eyen and Henry Krieger as well as four new tunes: "Love You I Do" (for Effie), "Listen" (for Deena), "Patience" (for James "Thunder" Early) and "Perfect World" (for Teddy Campbell, a child musical sensation rising alongside The Dreams).

The new movie musical received five Golden Globe nominations earlier this week: Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical, Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Beyoncé Knowles), Best Performance By an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Jennifer Hudson), Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Eddie Murphy) and Best Original Song-Motion Picture ("Listen"). "Dreamgirls" will vie for the Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical Golden Globe in a field that also includes "Borat," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Thank You for Smoking."

"Dreamgirls," according to the film's official website, "follows the rise of a trio of women — Deena (Beyoncé Knowles), Effie (Jennifer Hudson) and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) — who have formed a promising girl group called The Dreamettes. At a talent competition, they are discovered by an ambitious manager named Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx), who offers them the opportunity of a lifetime: to become the back-up singers for headliner James 'Thunder' Early (Eddie Murphy). Curtis gradually takes control of the girls' look and sound, eventually giving them their own shot in the spotlight as The Dreams. The spotlight, however, begins to narrow in on Deena, finally pushing back the less attractive Effie out altogether. Though the Dreams become a crossover phenomenon, they soon realize that the cost of fame and fortune may be higher than they ever imagined."

The musical Dreamgirls, which concerns the rise of a Supremes-like singing group amid a flurry of infighting, debuted at Broadway's Imperial Theatre on Dec. 9, 1981, playing 1,521 performances before closing Aug. 11, 1985. The original cast featured Obba Babatundé, Cleavant Derricks, Loretta Devine, Ben Harney, Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Deborah Burrell. The show lost the Tony for Best Musical to Maury Yeston's Nine. A 1987 revival at the Ambassador Theatre starred Lillias White, Alisa Gyse, Kevyn Morrow, Weyman Thompson and Arnetia Walker.

For more information visit www.dreamgirlsmovie.com.