Brad Pitt’s latest action movie has been quietly putting together a strong theatrical run, but moviegoers will soon have fewer opportunities to see it on the big screen.
Heart of the Beast, the survival thriller starring Pitt alongside a combat dog named Odin, is losing nearly 1,200 theaters as it enters its sixth week of release. According to Collider, the movie is being pulled from approximately 1,200 locations, dropping from more than 3,000 theaters to roughly 2,260. Between three and six weeks is common for a theater run.
That’s a substantial reduction, but it doesn’t necessarily mean audiences have turned against the movie. In fact, Heart of the Beast has been performing steadily since its September release and has earned strong marks from both critics and moviegoers.
Brad Pitt’s ‘Heart of the Beast’ Has Been a Box-Office Success
Heart of the Beast opened in U.S. theaters on Sept. 25 and brought in more than $20 million during its opening weekend. It has continued to add to that total without experiencing the kind of steep week-to-week drops that can quickly kill a movie’s theatrical run.
According to Box Office Mojo, the movie has earned more than $60 million domestically and $157 million worldwide as of Oct. 23. Its production budget was reportedly $82 million.
Audiences Really Like Brad Pitt’s New Movie
The Rotten Tomatoes scores tell a similar story. Heart of the Beast currently has an 85% Tomatometer score from critics and a 95% audience score from more than 2,500 verified ratings.
The site’s critics consensus calls the film a “rigorously entertaining adventure story,” while praising its memorable action sequences and tribute to the bond between people and dogs. Audience reviews are even more enthusiastic.
One recent viewer called it “touching” and “heartfelt,” while another described it as a must-see for people who love “adventure, nature, dogs, military, and survival.”
There is some dissent, of course. One viewer said they “could have waited until streamed,” which is perhaps particularly appropriate now that the movie’s theatrical footprint is shrinking.
Why Is ‘Heart of the Beast’ Losing Theaters?
The answer is probably less dramatic than the headline makes it sound.
Movies routinely lose theaters as they get further into their theatrical runs, particularly when newer releases need those screens. Heart of the Beast opened in 3,435 domestic theaters and expanded slightly to 3,481 in its second week before gradually declining. It was still playing in 3,049 theaters during its fourth week.
Now, that number is dropping to roughly 2,260. That’s a significant cut, but the film has already had nearly five weeks to establish itself with moviegoers. And with its worldwide gross now above $157 million, Heart of the Beast has clearly found an audience.
The timing also means anyone who has been putting off seeing it in theaters may want to check local listings sooner rather than later.
