Tim Burton’s “9″ not on tap for Celebration Cinema

Despite student interest and the number two position in the box office, the movie “9” will not be playing at the Celebration! Cinemas, 4935 E. Pickard St.

The latest film from Tim Burton opened last Wednesday — or 9-9-09 — and brought in nearly $11 million its opening weekend, but has yet to make an appearance in Mount Pleasant.

Assistant manager of Celebration Dana Slachs said the decision to not play “9” at Celebration was not by choice.

Slachs said “9” is a limited release movie meaning there are only so many copies of the film and certain theatres are selected to play them. Manager Vicki Roggenbuck said the film companies determine which theaters receive limited releases and Celebration did not get “9” because of its size.

This is not new to Celebration, there have been other movies Celebration did not get on opening day. “(500) Days of Summer” was a recent movie that the cinema received after its release date.

“We were very disappointed, we have had so many calls for (9),” Slachs said.

Flushing sophomore Andrew Price was surprised “9” is not playing at Celebration.

“I don’t know why they wouldn’t play a movie geared toward a college audience that they have a high demand for,” Price said.

White Lake senior Dave Youngquist planned on seeing “9″ this past weekend.
“I’m gonna see it when I go home next week,” Youngquist said.

Youngquist said the movie theatre near White Lake rarely has limited release movies but they are playing “9.”

As for the future, Slachs said Celebration might get the movie soon but will not know until the week of.

“Typically we get limited releases about three or four weeks after (their actual release),” Roggenbuck said.

Students interested in seeing “9” but uninterested in waiting for it can see it at the Celebration! Cinema in Lansing or the Saginaw 8 Theater in Saginaw.