Lewiston-made movie dud at box office

LEWISTON – A movie made on the streets of Lewiston had a poor showing at the box office when it debuted over the weekend on 45 New England screens.

“Shadow Glories,” a low-budget kickboxing drama, made only $15,040 over the weekend, or $335 per screen, according to Exhibitor Relations Co., which tracks box office draws.

Those numbers were disappointing for the movie’s producers, who had hoped that strong sales would propel the independent production to a nationwide release.

“We’ve got a major uphill battle,” said Marc Sandler, who wrote and co-produced the movie, and stars in it. “We don’t know how much longer it will be in theaters.”

“Shadow Glories” was made last year in Lewiston and several residents had bit parts in the movie.

Sandler said it’s tough to put out the numbers of the movies with star power and big studio money. The weekend’s top-grossing movie was “Don’t Say a Word,” which stars Michael Douglas and drew more than $17 million in a worldwide release at 2,802 theaters.

While “Shadow Glories” didn’t fare well at all theaters, its premiere at Flagship Cinemas in Lewiston drew good crowds.

From Friday through Monday, about 650 people bought tickets at the theater, making it the top film for the weekend, said theater manager Doris Davis.

Theaters where the film isn’t doing so well may choose to replace it. Sandler said even if the movie doesn’t stay in theaters, it could go on to cable TV or possibly go overseas.

Whatever happens to the movie, Sandler said its run in theaters gives it legitimacy that many independent movies never get.

“Most independent films don’t get released in theaters,” Sandler said. “Ours did.”