Beyond Films has confirmed that US rights to writer-director Andrew Dominik's Chopper have been sold to First Look Pictures, which plans to stage a theatrical release in March 2001.

Chopper screened at the Edinburgh, Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals and has now been in the Australian top 20 list for eight weeks. As of September 27 it had grossed $3m (A$5.5m) despite an 'R' rating which restricts it to people 18 years and over.

Eric Bana has been much lauded for his lead role as the infamous real-life criminal Mark "Chopper" Read. His performance has played a key role in the film which has sold to Canada (Blackwatch), Japan (Mipic), the UK (Metrodome), France (Mars Films) and Scandanavia (Non-Stop).

Chopper was produced by commercials and music video producer Michele Bennett, executive produced by Al Clark and Martin Fabinyi, and co-produced by Michael Gudinski.