‘Crazy Heart’ gets Oscar boost

“Crazy Heart” may not have received one of the Academy Awards’ 10 best picture slots, but it got its revenge at the box office this weekend.

Fox Searchlight’s country-music drama, which received three nominations, including best actor for Jeff Bridges, went from 239 locations to 819 this weekend and collected a studio-estimated $3.65 million, or $4,457 per theater.

That’s the best performance by far of any Oscar-nominated picture that expanded into more theaters this weekend.

“Crazy Heart” did particularly well in Florida, said Fox Searchlight’s executive vice president of distribution, Sheila Deloach, a sign that older audiences are taking to the tale of a past-his-prime country singer.

Several best picture nominees moved into more theaters as well but with less impressive results.

Sony Pictures Classics expanded “An Education” from 75 theaters to 761 and generated $915,407, or a relatively soft $1,203 per theater. Its total so far is $9.8 million.

Lionsgate had hoped to build on the $45.6 million that “Precious” made through Thursday primarily from African American moviegoers by taking the dark but inspiring drama from 222 theaters to 669 and reaching a more diverse audience. But the best picture nominee sold a weak $440,000 worth of tickets, or $650 per theater.

Summit Entertainment expanded “The Hurt Locker” from 38 theaters to 110.

The Iraq war drama, undoubtedly slowed by already being available on DVD, took in just $123,000, or $1,118 per location. Despite its status as the presumed top contender for best picture alongside “Avatar,” it has sold just $13.4 million of tickets domestically.

Sony Classics’ “The Last Station,” which got two acting nominations, went from nine theaters to 51 and took in a healthy $371,064, or $7,226 per theater. Its total domestic gross is now $758,531.

ben.fritz@latimes.com