Chi-Raq, Vertigo films - case study

Chi-Raq is a modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes. After the murder of a Child by a stray bullet, a group of women led by a gang leader’s beautiful young girlfriend Lysistrata organize against the ongoing violence in Chicago’s South Side.


Fact File

• Chi-Raq was the first original film to be distributed by Amazon Studios.
• Directed by Spike Lee
• Written by Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott
• The first trailer for the film was released November 3, 2015
• It was released on December 4th 2015
• Opening weekend- $1,198,356 (USA) (4 December 2015)
• Gross- $2,647,377 (USA) (22 January 2016)
• It grossed $1,250,224 from 305 theatres in its opening weekend.
• Including a $15000 per screen average on 22 screens in Chicago.
• Chi- Raq received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has rating of 81%, based on 84 reviews, an average rating of 7.5/10.