Looking for Oscar bump, 'Moonlight' heads back into theatres

ENTERTAINMENT

Looking for Oscar bump, 'Moonlight' heads back into theatres

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, March 1, 2017 1:36PM EST

This image released by A24 Films shows Alex Hibbert in a scene from the film, "Moonlight." (David Bornfriend/A24 via AP)

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NEW YORK -- Best-picture winner "Moonlight" is heading back into theatres in what will be its widest release yet.

Its distributor, A24, said the film will play in about 1,500 theatres this weekend. "Moonlight" first opened in late October, and while it played in 585 theatres last weekend, it's out on DVD and digital rental.

The film's long release never surpassed 1,104 screens. By comparison, most major wide-release films open on 3,000 or more screens.

"Moonlight" has thus far grossed $22.3 million in domestic release. That makes the film, made for just $1.5 million, one of the lowest grossing best-picture winners ever. The lowest is 2009's "The Hurt Locker," which made $17 million, or about $19.4 million in today's dollars.