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In this case, it's called a "platform" release. The studio knows they have a difficult sell with this film (strange title, not a franchise picture, not a sequel, not a cartoon, not based on a best-seller, etc.), so what they do is give it a nice exclusive run in major markets. The hope is that the critical response is good and that word-of-mouth is positive and that it garners some end-of-year kudos & nominations. Then they'll roll it out further. And, yes, with so many "big" films opening, there is the chance that it would get squeezed out of its run if it doesn't immediately become a smash hit, so they'd rather avoid the multiplexes around the holiday.
It's a wise move that studios should do more often.
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