‘The Death of Stalin’ Lives as the First Big Specialized Opener of 2018

New blood! “The Death of Stalin” came along just in time to replace the aging awards titles that dominated the specialized world since October.

In its initial two-city platform, audiences embraced the unlikely comedy involving a group of famous Soviet figures who plan to kill the Communist despot.

Maybe the Oscar hangover won’t be so bad this year.Two other wider releases — “The Leisure Seeker” and “Thoroughbreds” — had larger grosses, but far lower per-theater averages.

Neither suggest much traction.OpeningThe Death of Stalin (IFC) – Metacritic: 88; Festivals include: Toronto 2017, Sundance 2018$181,308 in 4 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $45,307Armando Iannucci’s early-1950s, Moscow-set comedy that speculates on what led to the dictator’s demise is the first 2018 platform release to suggest crossover appeal.

The $45,000 PTA in four New York/Los Angeles theaters is impressive; it’s just behind “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “While We’re Young,” both in

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