‘Pitch Perfect’ resonates with $5.2 million in limited release

“Pitch Perfect” hit a high note at the box office this weekend, as the a cappella comedy did brisk business even though it premiered in only a limited number of theaters.

Playing in 335 theaters in 125 cities, the film about a college singing group collected a robust $5.2 million over the weekend, according to an estimate from distributor Universal Pictures.

After early word-of-mouth screenings at cheerleading camps and college campuses generated an exceptionally positive response, Universal decided in September to open the film in 335 locations a week before its nationwide expansion on Oct. 5. It was an unusual move for a major studio with a commercial film, but one that seems to have paid off. Those who saw the movie this weekend -- a 74% female crowd -- loved it, assigning it an average grade of A, according to market research firm CinemaScore.

“It was very clear that we wanted the word-of-mouth to sell the movie -- you want everybody to feel good about it and tell their friends,” said Universal’s president of domestic distribution Nikki Rocco. “This was uncharted territory, but we took a shot at it and this is a great result.”

The film, which features Anna Kendrick and rising star Rebel Wilson, has also received positive response from critics and on Sunday had a 72% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The low-budget film should be a financial success for Universal, which co-financed the picture with Paul Brooks’ Gold Circle Films for $17 million.