Wide-release and opening-weekend box office strategies (1980-2005)

1. Jaws pairs national TV ads with wide opening

   Jun 20, 1975Labels: Jaws, Universal Pictures

   • Jaws film
   • AP Jaws

2. E.T. shows the power of expansion and re-release

   Jun 11, 1982Labels: E T, Universal Pictures

   • E T film
   • AP Jaws

3. Top Gun’s early-summer opening tests timing

   May 16, 1986Labels: Top Gun, Paramount Pictures

   • Top Gun

4. Batman breaks opening-weekend records in wide play

   Jun 23, 1989Labels: Batman, Warner Bros

   • Batman 1989

5. Jurassic Park opens on 2,404 locations

   Jun 11, 1993Labels: Jurassic Park, Universal Pictures

   • Jurassic Park
   • UPI 1993

6. Independence Day uses previews and holiday launch

   Jul 2, 1996Labels: Independence Day, 20th Century

   • Independence Day

7. Box Office Mojo begins publishing weekend grosses online

   Aug 7, 1998Labels: Box Office, Brandon Gray

   • Box Office Mojo

8. Harry Potter’s wide debut sets a new three-day record

   Nov 16, 2001Labels: Harry Potter, Warner Bros

   • Box Office Mojo
   • LA Times

9. Spider-Man becomes first $100 million opening weekend

   May 3, 2002Labels: Spider-Man, Sony Pictures

   • BOM Spider Man
   • History com

10. Revenge of the Sith sets major opening-week records

    May 19, 2005Labels: Revenge of, Lucasfilm

    • Sith film
    • Al Jazeera

11. Wide-release playbook centers on record-driven openings

    Dec 31, 2005Labels: Wide-release playbook

    • BOM Spider Man
    • Box Office Mojo

12. Legacy: opening weekend becomes a standard success yardstick

    Dec 31, 2005Labels: Opening-weekend legacy

    • Jaws film
    • Box Office Mojo