‘Boyhood’ catches more steam in its second weekend

Richard Linklater’s acclaimed drama “Boyhood” continues to impress audiences.

In its second weekend in limited release, the coming-of-age odyssey — shot in pieces over a dozen years — grossed about $1.2 million after it was expanded to 34 screens.

“Boyhood,” which has grossed $1.8 million, averaged about $35,000 per-screen -- about three times that of blockbuster “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”

The scripted film follows a boy (Ellar Coltrane) growing up while his parents (Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette) mature with him.

Linklater’s nearly three-hour film was a hit when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and the rave reviews have only continued as the film dazzles audiences and sparks Oscar buzz.

In its first weekend, “Boyhood” opened on just five screens and averaged about $72,000 per-screen, the second-highest average of the year following the record-breaking performance of Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

A rare 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, strong word of mouth and an aggressive social-media campaign helped the film secure a solid opening. That stellar reception will only continue to add steam as the film widens.

“Looking back, it seemed like a tremendous risk. But at that time when we sat down, it seemed like an obvious easy yes,” Jonathan Sehring, whose IFC Films financed “Boyhood” and released the film, said after its opening weekend performance.

Sehring added that “everyone from octogenarians to 13-year-olds” have flocked to see the film “and they are all applauding. It’s really gratifying.”

“Everything could have gone wrong, and nothing did. Everybody had the same goal and the same vision and the same passion,” Sehring continued. “And that all goes back to [Linklater].”

IFC Films, which also financed Linklater’s real-time relationship drama “Tape” and animated cerebral picture “Waking Life,” will expand “Boyhood” to the top 25 markets this weekend.