Editing American Beauty (1999 film) (section)

===Theatrical run===
The film had its world premiere on September 8, 1999, at [[Grauman's Egyptian Theatre]] in [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="belle">{{cite magazine|last=Higgins |first=Bill |date=September 13, 1999 |title='American Beauty' is belle of ball |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/1999/scene/vpage/american-beauty-is-belle-of-ball-1117755572/ |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> Three days later, the film appeared at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref name="bow">{{cite magazine|last1=Carver |first1=Benedict |last2=Jones |first2=Oliver |date=September 13, 1999 |title='Beauty' and the buzz: Mendes bow wows Toronto; SPE near 'East' deal |magazine=Variety}}</ref> With the filmmakers and cast in attendance, it screened at several American universities, including the [[University of California at Berkeley]], [[New York University]], the [[University of California at Los Angeles]], the [[University of Texas at Austin]], the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], and [[Northwestern University]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Archerd |first=Army |date=September 16, 1999 |title='Beauty' gets high scores in college |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/beauty-gets-high-scores-in-college-1117755716/ |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:American Beauty theater count.png|300px|thumb|alt=The number starts at 6 on September 15, 1999, and steeply rises to 1528 on October 29, before declining to a low of 10 on February 4, 2000. The number then rises to 1990 on March 31 and decreases to 138 on June 4.|Graph showing the number of theaters in which ''American Beauty'' played in North America in 1999–2000. After the film's [[Golden Globe]] success in January 2000, DreamWorks re-expanded its market presence to 1,990 theaters.<ref name="glows" /><ref name="theaters" />]]
On September 15, 1999, ''American Beauty'' opened to the public in [[limited release]] at three theaters in Los Angeles and three in New York.{{refn|"Theaters" refers to individual movie theaters, which may have multiple auditoriums. Later, "screens" refers to single auditoriums.|group="nb"}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |last2=Moerk |first2=Christian |date=September 21, 1999 |title=Helmer Mendes close to deal at D'Works |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/helmer-mendes-close-to-deal-at-d-works-1117755858/ |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> More theaters were added during the limited run,<ref name="theaters" /> and on October 1, the film officially entered [[wide release]]{{refn|Crossing the 600-theater threshold.|group="nb"}} by screening in 706&nbsp;theaters across North America.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Klady |first=Leonard |date=October 4, 1999 |title='Double' decks 'Kings' at B.O. |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/double-decks-kings-at-b-o-1117756265/ |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> The film grossed $8,188,587 over the weekend, ranking third at the box office behind ''[[Double Jeopardy (1999 film)|Double Jeopardy]]'' and ''[[Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings]]''.<ref name="bom">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=americanbeauty.htm |title=American Beauty (1999) |url-status=live |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=Amazon.com |access-date=May 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905093015/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=americanbeauty.htm |archive-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref> Audiences polled by the market research firm [[CinemaScore]] gave ''American Beauty'' a "B+" grade on average.{{refn|According to the firm, men under 21 gave ''American Beauty'' an "A+" grade; women under 21 gave it an "A". Men in the 21–34 age group gave the film a "B+"; women 21–34 gave it an "A−". Men 35 and over awarded a "B+"; women 35 and over gave a "B".<ref>{{Cite web |title=CinemaScore: American Beauty |url=http://www.cinemascore.com/search.epl?id=American_Beauty |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000706193215/http://www.cinemascore.com/search.epl?id=American_Beauty |archive-date=July 6, 2000 |access-date=April 11, 2017}}. [[CinemaScore]]. Archived from the original on April 8, 2000. Retrieved January 17, 2010.</ref>|group="nb"}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/movies-sound-recording/6395767-1.html |title=CinemaScore Ratings Compare with Golden Globes:Critics Both Confirm, Deny Latest Audience Preferences |work=[[Business Wire]] |date=January 27, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807155852/http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/movies-sound-recording/6395767-1.html |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |access-date=May 3, 2009}}</ref> The theater count hit a high of 1,528 at the end of the month, before a gradual decline.<ref name="theaters">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=americanbeauty.htm |title=American Beauty: Weekend Box Office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606164319/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=americanbeauty.htm |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=Amazon.com |access-date=January 26, 2010}}</ref> Following ''American Beauty''{{'}}s wins at the [[57th Golden Globe Awards]], DreamWorks re-expanded the theater presence from a low of 7 in mid-February,<ref name="glows">{{cite magazine|last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=February 27, 2000 |title=Noms are B.O. gold for 'Beauty,' 'Cider' |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/noms-are-b-o-gold-for-beauty-cider-1117778824/ |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> to a high of 1,990 in March.<ref name="theaters" /> The film ended its North American theatrical run on June 4, 2000, having grossed $130.1&nbsp;million.<ref name="bom" />

''American Beauty'' had its European premiere at the [[London Film Festival]] on November 18, 1999;<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Dawtrey |first=Adam |date=September 16, 1999 |title=An 'American' kickoff for London Film Fest |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/an-american-kickoff-for-london-film-fest-1117755718/ |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> in January 2000, it began to screen in various territories outside North America.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming |first=Michael |date=November 29, 1999 |title=H'w'd taps on Mendes' door |magazine=Variety}}</ref> It debuted in Israel to "potent" returns,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Groves |first=Don |date=January 18, 2000 |title=Preems push o'seas B.O.: 'Ashes,' 'Kings,' 'Beauty' bows boost weekend |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/preems-push-o-seas-b-o-1117760958/ |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> and limited releases in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Finland followed on January 21.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Groves |first=Don |date=January 25, 2000 |title=Winter chill o'seas |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/winter-chill-o-seas-2-1117765610/ |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> After January 28 opening weekends in Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain and Norway, ''American Beauty'' had earned $7&nbsp;million in 12&nbsp;countries for a total of $12.1&nbsp;million outside North America.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Groves |first=Don |date=February 6, 2000 |title=Bows buoy biz o'seas |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/bows-buoy-biz-o-seas-1117776154/ |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> On February 4, ''American Beauty'' debuted in France and Belgium. Expanding to 303&nbsp;theaters in the United Kingdom, the film ranked first at the box office with $1.7&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Woods |first=Mark |date=February 8, 2000 |title='Toy 2's' the story |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/toy-2-s-the-story-1117776228/ |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> There, it surpassed ''[[Alien Resurrection]]'' for scoring the highest opening weekend for an [[18 (British Board of Film Classification)|18 certificate]] film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/uk-audiences-devour-hannibal/405062.article|title=UK audiences devour Hannibal}}</ref> This record would be overtaken by ''[[Snatch (film)|Snatch]]'' later that year.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=8 September 2000|page=39|last=Scott|first=Mary|title=Snatch steals top spot|url=https://www.screendaily.com/snatch-steals-record-breaking-uk-opening/403512.article|access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref> On the weekend of February 18—following ''American Beauty''{{'}}s eight nominations for the [[72nd Academy Awards]]—the film grossed $11.7&nbsp;million from 21&nbsp;territories, for a total of $65.4&nbsp;million outside North America. The film had "dazzling" debuts in Hungary, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and New Zealand.<ref name="bigbows" />

As of February 18, the most successful territories were the United Kingdom ($15.2&nbsp;million), Italy ($10.8&nbsp;million), Germany ($10.5&nbsp;million), Australia ($6&nbsp;million), and France ($5.3&nbsp;million).<ref name="bigbows">{{cite magazine|last=Groves |first=Don |date=February 22, 2000 |title=Surf's high o'seas |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/surf-s-high-o-seas-1117776609/|access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> The Academy Award nominations meant strong performances continued across the board;<ref name="trio">{{cite magazine|last=Groves |first=Don |date=February 28, 2000 |title=Trio terrific o'seas |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/trio-terrific-o-seas-1117778773/ |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> the following weekend, ''American Beauty'' grossed $10.9&nbsp;million in 27&nbsp;countries, with strong debuts in Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Groves |first=Don |date=February 28, 2000 |title=Frosh rush o'seas |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/frosh-rush-o-seas-1117778835/ |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> Other high spots included robust returns in Argentina, Greece, and Turkey.<ref name="trio" /> On the weekend of March 3, 2000, ''American Beauty'' debuted strongly in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, markets traditionally "not receptive to this kind of upscale fare". The impressive South Korean performance continued, with a return of $1.2&nbsp;million after nine days.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Groves |first=Don |date=March 6, 2000 |title=Oscar noms boost B.O. overseas |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/oscar-noms-boost-b-o-overseas-1117779131/ |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> In total, ''American Beauty'' grossed $130.1&nbsp;million in North America and $226.2&nbsp;million internationally, for $356.3&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref name="bom" />