Little big issues

There's news on two sides of the movie spectrum this week, and we're not sure if they're mutually exclusive. Maybe you can tell us.

Exhibit A: Regal Cinemas, on a tear of late to put more butts in seats, is adding 31 Imax digital projection systems in its theaters in 20 major markets, with the first of those souped-up screens available just in time to show "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The Imax Experience" in the fall.

This is the same chain that announced recently that it will show red-band trailers (juicy bits not redacted!) with R, NC-17 and unrated movies. It's the first and largest exhibitor to do so.

This comes on the heels of a ShoWest that emphasized high-tech stunts like uber-sophisticated 3D, and moves by theater operators to add more interactive ads on screen in the preshow and on the floors and walls of the lobbies. That real estate is not just for overpriced popcorn anymore!

After the jump: Exhibit B.

Exhibit B: Two "little" films, "Meet the Browns" and "Under the Same Moon," fed some starved niche audiences to the tune of $20 million and $2.6 million, respectively. That Tyler Perry's latest dramedy came in second only to the family flick "Horton Hears a Who," isn't all that unexpected, given his track record in speaking to African-American audiences who usually go wanting for serious big screen entertainment.

More surprising is "Under the Same Moon," which opened on a paltry 266 screens and managed to wind up in the top 10, breaking records for a Spanish-language film opening weekend. It grossed $9,774 per theater to "Horton's" $6,337.

Not to oversimplify too much, but some recent deals and the prevailing mood does beg the question: If we keep seeing more and more of A, does that mean we'll have less of B? Or, will the windfall created by in-theater ads, 3D and other Big Spectacle Movies give more breathing room for artsy, award-winning, foreign language, special interest indie films?

Or should we just stock up on Laemmle gift cards?