The numbers don't lie. Or, do they? I always hear talk of our children "needing to see more positive black images in the media." With that being said, I'm absolutely perplexed at the box office numbers for Akeelah and the Bee. In 2 weeks of release Akeelah has only accumulated 10.6 millions dollars. Its opening weekend box office tally was 6.0 mil. Now that's a respectable number but now outstanding.
I'm disgusted. Why is this film NOT being supported? Is the subject matter too deep? Not starring a singer/rapper turned actor? Not featuring enough coon behavior? How many parents took their kids to see the installments of Harry Potter, Doogal or any other recent kids' movie but didn't make it point to watch Akeelah? I tell ya: release a black film that isn't violent or full of low brow humor and you might as well be SOL finding an audience.
The following box office numbers were retrieved from Rotten Tomatoes. The bolded number is the total box office gross..the number following is the opening weekend box office gross. One analyst is projecting Akeelah's total gross to be 20 mil once it completes its theatrical run.
Akeelah and the Bee $10,662,783 $6,011,585
Phat Girlz $6,661,038 $3,109,924
ATL $20,957,855 $11,554,404
Madea Family Reunion $63,231,524 $30,030,661
Something New $11,425,894 $4,879,736
Big Momma's House $70,013,586 $27,736,056
Roll Bounce - $17,364,602 $7,570,366
The Gospel $15,778,152 $7,523,571
Diary of a Mad Black Woman $50,382,128 $21,905,089
Beauty Shop $36,310,118 $13,500,000
Are We There Yet? $82,301,521 $18,575,214
Coach Carter $67,169,549 $29,168,180
Get Rich or Die Trying $30,885,034 $12,020,807
Last Holiday $38,360,195 $12,806,188
Guess Who? $67,962,333 $20,671,446
Men dressed up as fat black women? Is that the only thing that entertains us?
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