Peter Jackson's WWI doc 'They Shall Not Grow Old' sets new box office record

Peter Jackson’s stunning World War One documentary They Shall Not Grow Old is setting new box office records in the US.

It’s brought in the highest single day gross ever for a documentary, and the top-grossing single night presentation for US exhibitor Fathom Events (via Deadline).

It should make in excess of $5.4 million (£4.8 million) in just a few days on release across the pond.

The movie is yet to open in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, but will do in January, with an even bigger release planned across the US in February.

Using over 600 hours of archived BBC audio footage, and 100 hours of video footage, which was then colourised, Jackson’s groundbreaking document on The Great War has been universally praised.

Hugo Rifkind in The Times wrote: “With no narration, just primary sources, but also with authenticity coming through the artifice of recreated image and sound, it was quite unlike anything else there has ever been.”

Thousands tuned in as the film streamed on iPlayer in November, ahead of the centenary of the end of World War One.

Sadly, the movie missed the entry window of October 1 for consideration at this year’s Oscars.

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