Brendan Gleeson’s latest movie “The Guard” could be on its way to becoming the most successful Irish Film at the domestic box office since “The Wind that Shakes the Barley,” according to the Irish Times.

Currently, the film has brought in €2.6 million ($3.6 million) at the Irish box office. It has grossed an average of $21,000 per screen in America during its opening weekend, “making it the second highest per screen opening in the US last weekend,” according to the Times.

Although the  movie did so great per screen, there were only four screens which the movie was played on. Due to it’s massive success, however, the movie is set to be shown on over 50 screens across the US within the next month.

“The Wind that Shakes the Barley” grossed  €4 million ($5.6 million) in 2006 at the Irish Box office, and it is estimated that “The Guard” will bring in over  €3 ($4 million) quite shortly.  Producer Ed Guiney said that he believed that movie could have broke even with their €6 million ($8.6 million) budget even before it went worldwide.

“The Guard”  is about an FBI agent dropped into an Irish village in search of international drug dealers; Gleeson plays the local policeman (or “guard”). Commenting on how receptive audiences have been to a film that truly portrays local Irish life, Guiney commented,  “When you make an Irish film you want it to be enjoyed by Irish audiences, and we’re delighted that they are continuing to go and see it.”
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