'Purple Rain' is so popular in theaters that AMC will keep it running through next week

LOS ANGELES -- Just like any good Prince dance party should, Purple Rain's return to theaters is going waaay later than anyone expected.

Mashable has learned the response to the theatrical re-release has been so strong -- one insider called it "tremendous" -- that AMC is extending its run of the cult hit 1984 film in theaters through next Thursday. The film is also expanding to 212 locations, more than half the chain's total circuit.

That's up from the 87 locations Mashable reported would play the film, whose initial run was expected to end this Thursday. But Purple Rain will party on through the weekend and next week -- finally concluding in time to get out of the way of Captain America: Civil War on May 5.

Warner Bros., which owns the film's rights, has not released box office figures on the re-release and declined to comment on the result. However, sources close to AMC tell Mashable that Purple Rain had the highest percentage of theater sellouts among all titles playing this weekend at the chain, the largest in the U.S.

That prompted AMC to add showtimes on the fly, ultimately leading to the extension and expansion.

Purple Rain was a solid hit when it came out in July of 1984, climbing to $68.3 million domestically -- and boosting Prince from pop star to icon-level superstardom. If re-release figures are ever disclosed, they could push the film over $70 million.

AMC had not yet released its list of expanded locations; we'll update here when they do.

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