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The 2008 film Twilight was Russia’s highest-grossing movie in September, earning 340 million rubles after returning to theaters on September 17, according to RBC. It outperformed two new releases, and Russian Cinema Fund data cited by RBC shows this was the first time an older film topped the monthly box office since the system began tracking figures in 2015.
The 2008 vampire romance Twilight was Russia’s highest-grossing movie in September, taking in 340 million rubles after returning to theaters on September 17, RBC reported. The film’s result put it ahead of two new releases and marked the first time an older movie topped the monthly chart in the box-office tracking system cited by RBC.
Starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, Twilight is the first film in the screen saga based on Stephenie Meyer’s novels. Its September theatrical return outperformed the new Russian releases How Ivan Ended Up in a Fairy Tale, which earned 296 million rubles, and The Ninth Planet, which took in 183 million rubles, according to RBC’s reporting.
The figures come from the Russian Cinema Fund’s Unified Automated Information System, known as EAIS, which tracks Russian theatrical box-office data. RBC cited the system’s figures in reporting the monthly ranking. The available report gives the films’ September earnings but does not specify whether the totals represent ticket sales across every venue or provide further breakdowns by theater or screening.
Maria Shcherbal, director of research firm Wanta Group, told RBC that nearly half of the film’s rerelease audience was 18 to 24. She attributed part of the audience response to recommendations and online discussion, citing research on how viewers heard about the film during its second week in theaters.
A Rerelease Beats New Releases
The result shows that a reissued older film can lead a monthly box-office chart, at least in this case, rather than a new release taking the top position. Twilight’s 340 million rubles exceeded the reported totals for both new titles, making the chart notable for exhibitors and distributors weighing which films may draw audiences to theaters.
The audience figures cited by Shcherbal also point to younger moviegoers forming a substantial share of the rerelease audience. Her account suggests that social media and personal recommendations helped spread interest, though the reported figures describe how surveyed viewers said they heard about the film; they do not establish that those channels alone caused its box-office performance.
The development is also a marker of the film’s continued theatrical appeal in Russia. However, one month’s figures do not show whether other older titles could repeat the result, or whether Twilight’s performance reflects a broader change in audience habits.
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Russia’s Box-Office Tracking Since 2015
RBC’s report says the EAIS has tracked Russian theatrical box-office data since 2015. The Russian Cinema Fund system’s records, as cited by RBC, make it possible to compare the September result with the monthly rankings it has recorded over that period. On that basis, RBC described Twilight as the first older film to top a monthly chart.
The film returned to Russian cinemas on September 17. The remaining movies in the Twilight saga are also scheduled to return to theaters, with rereleases planned from October through February, according to the source report. The schedule could give theaters further opportunities to build on interest in the series, although no future earnings figures are available yet.
“Word of mouth played a very big role here.”
— Maria Shcherbal, director of Wanta Group, speaking to RBC
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What the Box-Office Figures Leave Open
The reported totals establish Twilight’s position in the September ranking, but the source material does not give a full accounting of the release, such as ticket numbers, the number of cinemas screening it, or how the 340 million rubles compare with the film’s earlier Russian theatrical runs. The report also does not explain the exact methodology behind the audience research cited by Shcherbal.
It is not yet clear whether another older film will lead a future monthly chart or whether Twilight’s result will remain an exception. The forthcoming rereleases of the other saga films may offer further evidence of audience interest, but their box-office performance is unknown.
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The Saga Returns Through February
Russian theaters are scheduled to bring back the remaining Twilight films from October through February, according to the report. Their releases will provide the next measure of whether the September audience response extends beyond the first film. No projected earnings or detailed rerelease dates were included in the source material, so the size and timing of the later releases’ box-office results remain to be seen.
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Key Questions
Which film led Russia’s box office in September?
Twilight, the 2008 film starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, was the month’s top-grossing movie, according to RBC.
How much did Twilight earn?
The film earned 340 million rubles after returning to theaters on September 17, the report said.
Which new releases did it outperform?
Twilight topped How Ivan Ended Up in a Fairy Tale, which earned 296 million rubles, and The Ninth Planet, which earned 183 million rubles, according to RBC.
Why did audiences go to see the rerelease?
Wanta Group director Maria Shcherbal told RBC that social media, friends and acquaintances, and recommendations were among the ways viewers heard about the film. The report does not establish that any single factor caused its box-office result.
Will the other Twilight films return to theaters?
Yes. The source report says the remaining films in the saga are scheduled to return to Russian theaters from October through February. Their box-office results have not yet been reported.
Source: rss
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