Produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham and directed by Johannesburg-born Neill Blomkamp, District 9 - a relatively low budget movie (US$30 million) - became an instant hit late last week when it opened in the US, where it unexpectedly racked in a whopping US$37 million - US$27.1 million more than its counterpart Tsotsi did when it hit the screen internationally.
“We are expecting at least 2000 people to watch this movie tonight,” Mary Githu, Ster-Kinekor Theatres national marketing manager told Bizcommunity.com last night.
The whole movie complex was closed for the day and booked for the premiere, and moviegoers waiting to get their tickets stood on a long queue, which stretched from All Stars Casts up to Stoned Cherrie boutique and beyond.
The movie was shot on location in places such as Joburg CBD, Crown Mines (around Jumbo Super Market) and Illovo, among others.
First-time big movie director Blomkamp was reportedly said to be shocked by the instant success of District 9, while actor Kenneth Nkosi, who plays a cop in the movie involved in the operation to get rid of almost 1.8 million aliens that have invaded Joburg, said last night prior to the screening: “I thought aliens only existed in America but I have seen them and I think I am actually one of them.”
Blomkamp, who co-wrote the movie with Terri Tatchell, was quoted as saying, “I hope no one finds it to be too heavy-handed. Financially, it does not matter if it is a success or not [in SA], it has already made money in the US. What matters more to me is that SA likes it.”
The movie opens nationwide on 28 August.
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