Sarah Palin documentary "The Undefeated" heads to pay-per-view

Despite a drop in second-weekend ticket sales, the pro-Sarah Palin documentary "The Undefeated" will expand to pay-per-view and DVD markets this fall, according to the film's distributor.

The film, a positive look at the former governor's tenure in Alaska politics, opened in ten theaters on July 15 and grossed a modest $65,000. Last weekend, distribution was increased to include four new theaters, but ticket sales dropped to about $24,000, according to Box Office Mojo.

Nevertheless, ARC Entertainment, the film's distributor, announced on Sunday its decision to make the film available via pay-per-view and On Demand services this fall.

In a press release announcing the decision, the film's director, conservative filmmaker Stephen Bannon, attributed the small screen distribution to a perceived increase in audience demand.

"Given the strong audience reaction, we have determined there is overwhelming demand to get this film out broadly enough to cover the entire nation in September and October," he said.

As of Sept. 1, the film will be available on pay-per-view and On Demand services through cable providers such as DirecTV, DISH Network and Time Warner Cable, according to a press release. The DVD will also be made available on Oct. 4, both online and in stores. (The DVD has already been released to those who have contributed $100 or more to Palin's political action committee, SarahPAC, according to the press release.)

Limited theatrical release of the film is slated to continue nationwide throughout August and September.

Though the film includes commentary from favored conservative political commentators Mark Levin, Tammy Bruce and Andrew Breitbart, critics' responses have been generally lackluster. The film received a 0 percent rating on the movie review site RottenTomatoes.com, and a lukewarm audience response of 2.3 out of a possible 5 stars. New York Magazine called the film "a straight hagiography" while the LA Times downgraded it from film to "infomercial," and deemed it "thunderously repetitive."

Palin's 2012 intentions are still unknown, but the film's premiere in Iowa, a crucial early-primary state, has only added fueled speculation that Palin is at the very least seriously considering entering the contest for the GOP presidential nomination.