Morris: A Film That Everyone Wants To See

The film they said was ‘too niche’ to release (see previous post) has stormed the box office this weekend. Well, ok, let me qualify that a little. MORRIS: A LIFE WITH BELLS ON opened yesterday in 20 regional cinemas around the country where it managed a screen average of £898. To put this in context, another new film that opened this past weekend, SURROGATES starring Bruce Willis, managed a screen average of £832 on Sunday. Then there is THE SOLOIST, Sunday screen average of £302 and CREATION, Sunday screen average of £224.

What is all the more impressive is that MORRIS was released with practically zero print and advertising spend. The filmmakers put together a huge internet campaign (my Twitter feed has been non-stop #morrismovie of late), a Facebook group, sold out several village halls and in the process generated some excellent local and national press coverage.

The huge demand from yesterday’s opening day has meant extra shows have been hastily scheduled this week at the regional cinemas around the country. MORRIS: A LIFE WITH BELLS ON will make its way to cinemas in London next month.

“The box office success this weekend of Morris: A Life with Bells On shows that, far from appealing to a small niche market, there is a huge demand for a simple story well told. Morris is a good film about nice people made for ordinary people. And those same people are now voting with their wallets and coming out to see this film in their thousands.”
Lucy Akhurst, Director

Recent press on Morris
The Independent
The Daily Telegraph
Norwich Evening News
Radio 4 Front Row

Watch footage from the Morris Premiere

The Music of Morris

Oyster Girls Morris outside Harbour Lights Picturehouse

Ripley Morris Men outside the Ritz, Belper

Black Pig Morris outside the Ritz, Belper

Windsor Morris outside the Regal Picturehouse, Henley