Life Itself, our new documentary about film critic Roger Ebert, opened in US theaters and on demand and iTunes on July 4th.

The public and critical response has been wonderful, with the film gaining some of the year's best reviews from the press and thousands of fantastic responses on social media (look at RogerEbert.com and this Storify for just some of the examples).

The early box office reporting also indicates a "strong opening," say both TheWrap and IndieWIRE. The film opened on 24 screens to a $6,000 per screen average. It will hold at all 24 opening theaters and expand by another 35 screens on Friday, July 11th, and be up to 100 screens by July 18th. Check the www.ebertmovie.com website for a listing of all the venues.

Thanks to everyone who is helping make the film a hit!

Call me crazy, but I honestly think LIFE ITSELF could wind up being the first DOCUMENTARY nominated for BEST PICTURE. It's THAT good.

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) June 27, 2014

Thank you @EbertMovie Beautiful & brave. Anyone who grew up on movies will be incredibly moved. Thank you @ChazEbert for your generosity.

— Dana Delany (@DanaDelany) July 7, 2014

"A film about love." - NY Times @EbertMovie Watch #LifeItself today On Demand: http://t.co/8vjXe3QzCK pic.twitter.com/jGcHK3KA8T

— Magnolia Pictures (@MagnoliaPics) July 5, 2014

Saw film Life Itself @EbertMovie Chaz Ebert is extraordinary family caregiver, one of the many we ignore in US health system. Amazing life

— drapin (@drapin) July 7, 2014

"Life Itself" is required viewing for all journalists, not just film critics, cinephiles. Outstanding profile of a mercurial, brilliant man.

— Manori R. (@manniehall) July 6, 2014

See Life Itself @EbertMovie. Extraordinary. I pity the film critic whose job it is to sew up all this movie encompasses in a single column.

— Jennifer Carpenter (@J2thecarpenter) July 7, 2014

Go see @EbertMovie, in theaters tomorrow! You will laugh, cry, smile - what an incredible life Roger had. #LifeItself.

— Michael H. Weber (@thisisweber) July 3, 2014

Watching #LifeItself reminds me poignantly: movies are more than disposable product. They're vehicles for philosophy, perspective, life.

— Bastard Keith (@BastardKeith) July 6, 2014

'Life Itself' the Steve James documentary on Roger Ebert, is really wonderful. I cry easily. This one got me good.

— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) July 9, 2014

The Roger Ebert documentary Life Itself is a poignant, moving portrait: http://t.co/5zM8VN8Cku pic.twitter.com/uJnECUiN1V And it is wonderful.

— Robert Falls (@RobertFalls) July 5, 2014

I was moved by Life Itself as a portrait of Ebert, and also of the delicate challenge of respectful interaction between critics and artists.

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) July 7, 2014

If you're a film lover, a history buff, a truth seeker, a lover of life, an Ebert fan...RUN - do not walk - to see Life Itself @EbertMovie

— Laura Bruzas (@Laura_Bruzas) July 7, 2014

LIFE ITSELF (2014) Director of Photography: Dana Kupper | Director: Steve James | @EbertMovie pic.twitter.com/6RFJFs6xDk

— Perfect Shots (@OnePerfectShot) July 6, 2014

Saw steve James wonderful doc life itself, love story between @ebertchicago and @ChazEbert a beautiful thing #soulmates

— Sharon Waxman (@sharonwaxman) July 6, 2014

It's a good thing LIFE ITSELF is available On Demand, since some of us don't like to turn into blubbering messes in public.

— Bilge Ebiri (@BilgeEbiri) July 5, 2014

Just saw Life Itself, about @ebertchicago. Hell of a movie. Like all the best Chicago writers, Ebert was an intellectual for the people.

— John Green (@realjohngreen) July 8, 2014

I've seen over 100 films released this year. @EbertMovie is undoubtedly the best.

— Patrick Devitt (@pcdevitt) July 6, 2014

Seeing fine Roger Ebert doc "Life Itself" a second time moved me even more than the first. My review: http://t.co/1vJk7rzhME

— Kenneth Turan (@KennethTuran) July 4, 2014

@EbertMovie Life Itself is one of the most heartfelt documentaries I've seen in years. Accessible and intelligent, much like Ebert's prose.

— David A. Barrios (@Thatssobarrios) July 6, 2014

.@ebertchicago HAVE YOU SEEN THE DOC on Roger ?? Life Affirming indeed

— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) July 6, 2014

Glad to see folks are finding out this weekend why Life Itself is my number one film of the year so far.

— Joey Magidson (@JoeyMagidson) July 6, 2014

Just watched the movie about @ebertchicago LIFE ITSELF. I haven't cried in a movie in a long time. Excellent. Thumbs up!

— CRAIG BREWER (@MyBrewTube) July 9, 2014

The fact that @EbertMovie is about a "critic hero" of mine is beside the point. Life Itself is simply a great film. http://t.co/C0gQlFcRVq

— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) July 3, 2014

What's most astonishing in Life Itself is Roger Ebert's equanimity in confronting death; as he says, a sort of co-creation w/Steve James...

— Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow) July 3, 2014

..The biographical side is better told in the book Life Itself, but Roger Ebert's presence in end times makes the movie nearly transcendent.

— Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow) July 3, 2014

Have seven dollars? Have two hours? Like movies? Watch LIFE ITSELF. Bring tissues. @EbertMovie

— Jeffrey A. Kemp (@jeffreyakemp) July 6, 2014

Wow. @EbertMovie is hardly 'just' a film critic biopic. Like the title says, it's a moving look at mortality, time, and human connection.

— Eddie Schmidt (@Eddie_Schmidt) July 4, 2014

'Life Itself' director Steve James on why Roger Ebert deserved a documentary: http://t.co/m0YnrJzu6M @ebertmovie pic.twitter.com/KPJpg6ZGDC

— Indiewire (@indiewire) July 5, 2014

LIFE ITSELF (@EbertMovie) is an extraordinary movie about an extraordinary man. Indisputably one of the best films of the year. A must see.

— Michael B. Bonnée (@MichaelBBonnee) July 6, 2014

A 140 character limit isn't enough to describe how amazing @EbertMovie is. Beat documentary I have seen in years!

— Tyler Christian (@tmchrist43) July 4, 2014

.@EbertMovie is a masterpiece- alternately a heartbreaking portrait of illness and an affirmation of the power of love. Bravo and Thumbs Up!

— John Bonazzo (@johnbonazzo) July 6, 2014

Roger Ebert on cinema:“a machine that generates empathy.” Watching #LifeItself you know exactly what he means. Review http://t.co/tkjIKYpKhM

— Ty Burr (@tyburr) July 3, 2014

You should watch @EbertMovie not only if you're a film fan but if you're a human being. It touches deeply and shows how life truly should be

— Zach Dennis (@zdennis24) July 5, 2014

What a gift to see him on the screen—to see his spirit shining as brightly as ever #LIFEITSELF http://t.co/zILhG6HNUa pic.twitter.com/yM8HZ4067c

— Roger Ebert (@ebertchicago) July 4, 2014

Chicago's Kartemquin Films has made great, relevant and socially engaging docs for almost 50 years. Steve James' Life Itself is another one.

— William Horberg (@WilliamHorberg) July 5, 2014