The Last Lions

Fifty years ago there were close to half-a-million lions in Africa. Today there are around 20,000. To make matters worse, lions, unlike elephants, which are far more numerous, have virtually no protection under government mandate or through international accords. This is the jumping-off point for a disturbing, well-researched and beautifully made cri de coeur from husband and wife team Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers from Botswana who have been Explorers-in-Residence at National Geographic for more than four years. Pointing to poaching as a primary threat while noting the lion's pride of place on the list for eco-tourists-an industry that brings in 200 billion dollars per year worldwide-the Jouberts build a solid case for both the moral duty we have to protect lions (as well as other threatened "big cats," tigers among them) and the economic sense such protection would make. And when one takes into account the fact that big cats are at the very top of the food chain-and that their elimination would wreak havoc on all species below them, causing a complete ecosystem collapse-the need takes on a supreme urgency.

Grosses

Domestic (100%)
$635,325
Summary Details
DistributorNational Geographic Entertainment
See full company information
Opening$53,344
4 theaters
MPAAPG
Running Time1 hr 28 min
GenresDocumentary Family
In Release317 days/45 weeks
Widest Release61 theaters
DateRankWeekend %± LW TheatersChange AvgTo DateWeekend
Feb 18-2046$53,344-4-$13,336$53,3441
Feb 18-21
Presidents' Day wknd
44$68,856-4-$17,214$68,8561
Feb 25-2754$27,035-49.3%4-$6,758$117,1902
Mar 4-646$59,589+120.4%14+10$4,256$184,5603
Mar 11-1335$112,029+88%39+25$2,872$322,2444
Mar 18-2042$68,225-39.1%46+7$1,483$442,4425
Mar 25-2747$51,299-24.8%43-3$1,193$525,6526
Apr 1-362$22,138-56.8%36-7$614$573,2837
Apr 8-1082$6,680-69.8%19-17$351$593,3438
Apr 15-1767$12,228+83.1%61+42$200$607,8029
Apr 22-2478$7,683-37.2%59-2$130$625,01210
Apr 29-May 1118$148-98.1%5-54$29$628,39311
May 6-8118$851+475%4-1$212$630,15512
May 13-15118$1,297+52.4%1-3$1,297$631,92513