The Hunger Games

[JamesC]

Originally Posted by sanjuro_ronin

I'll wait for the porn parody.

I like where your head's at.

[GeneChing]

Do you see what the big deal about this movie is now, HH?

'Hunger Games' gorges on $214 million global debut
By Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES | Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:37am EDT

(Reuters) - Post-apocalyptic action movie "The Hunger Games" opened with a staggering $155 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices, beating Hollywood's lofty expectations and making history as the third-highest domestic film opening.

Internationally, the Lions Gate Entertainment drama about an oppressive society's teen death match added $59.3 million from 67 markets for a global haul of $214.3 million.

The massive U.S. and Canadian debut for the film ranked behind only last summer's "Harry Potter" finale and 2008 Batman movie "The Dark Knight," Lions Gate said.

The movie's success brings the first blockbuster franchise to Lions Gate, a smaller Hollywood studio best known previously for the "Saw" horror series and comedian Tyler Perry's films.

"Hunger Games" set records for highest opening of a non-sequel film and biggest debut outside the summer blockbuster season.

"The first movie in a franchise, to post a number like this, is really insane. There is no other word for it," said Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com.

"'Harry Potter' had seven movies before it got to that point, and 'Dark Knight' had years and years of building the Batman brand. This movie comes and hangs with them in the same league," Contrino said.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" opened with $169.2 million domestically over its opening weekend, while "Dark Knight" took in $158.4 million, according to Hollywood.com.

"Hunger Games" is an action-filled survival drama based on the first of three best-selling young adult novels by Suzanne Collins. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, a teen girl who fights in a televised battle-to-the-death ordered by her society's rulers. Everdeen becomes a beacon of hope for freedom against the totalitarian government.

Lions Gate executives got a sense of the huge appetite for "Hunger Games" when they ventured with director Gary Ross and producer Nina Jacobson to the ArcLight Cinema in Hollywood late Thursday ahead of the first screenings just after midnight.

Fans packed the lobby for showings on multiple screens, with many of the book's devotees dressed as characters. Similar scenes occurred across the country. By Saturday evening, executives went to bed thinking the film would finish the weekend with about $140 million domestically. But sales held up stronger than expected from Friday night to Saturday night, dropping just 25 percent instead of the typical 40 percent or more.

"To launch a franchise like this is incredible. It's above and beyond our expectations," David Spitz, executive vice president of domestic distribution for Lions Gate, said on Sunday. "We're just going to enjoy the ride."

Going into the weekend, industry forecasters projected about $125 million in domestic receipts from Friday through Sunday. Box-office watchers compared the movie's drawing power to the "Twilight" vampire romance films, another franchise based on popular young adult books.

The "Hunger Games" blew past the domestic debuts for each of the first four "Twilight" films, which Lions Gate now owns after buying Summit Entertainment in January.

"Hunger Games" rung up an average of $37,467 at 4,137 domestic locations from Friday through Sunday.

Audiences applauded the film adaptation of the book, giving the movie an "A" grade on average in polling by survey firm CinemaScore.

"Hunger Games" appealed to more adults and more males than "Twilight," which banked a large chunk of its receipts from teenage girls, Contrino said. Fifty-six percent of the "Hunger Games" audience was over age 25, and 39 percent was male.

The movie cost about $80 million to produce after tax credits. The studio pre-sold distribution rights in foreign markets other than Britain to cut its cost to about $30 million. That reduced the risk but also limited the money Lions Gate will get from overseas sales.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING DRIVE

To reach the film's core audience of younger viewers, the movie's $45 million marketing budget made aggressive use of the Internet, including a game on Facebook, YouTube videos and a blog on the site Tumblr dedicated to the film's fashion.

Anticipation built among fans and on Wall Street, where Lions Gate shares jumped nearly 33 percent in the six weeks leading up to the film's Friday opening. Shares rose from $10.95 on February 8 to $14.53 on March 23.

Toy companies also are trying to score big off the movie. Teen retailer Hot Topic Inc said last week it had sold out some "Hunger Games" merchandise. Hasbro Inc and Mattel Inc also have licenses to market toys based on "Hunger Games."

To win the rights to make the film, Lions Gate beat out bigger and better funded rivals with personal appeals to Collins beginning in 2009.

At the same time, Lions Gate was simultaneously fending off investor Carl Icahn, who took a 33 percent stake in Lions Gate and launched an unsuccessful proxy fight to elect five board members to the studio's board of directors.

Icahn bailed out on Lions Gate in August 2011, selling his 44 million shares for $7 apiece and losing out on a $331 million profit based on Lions Gate's closing stock price on Friday.

Elsewhere this weekend, "Hunger Games" had little competition at the domestic box office. No other new movies were released nationwide.

Comedy "21 Jump Street" took second place for the weekend with $21.3 million, and animated "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" finished third with $13.1 million.

Rounding out the top five, Disney sci-fi adventure "John Carter" pulled in $5.0 million, and military drama "Act of Valor" grossed $2.1 million.

[Hebrew Hammer]

I did see the numbers and they are staggering, have yet to hear anyone praise the movie...just that they were going to see it.

Clearly another sign of the forth coming Apocalypse Gene.

Even when I was 13, I'd still rather go see the original Master of the Flying Guillotine any day.

[GeneChing]

I'm pretty neutral about THG having never read the books (I haven't read any YA since Harry). I plan to see this eventually just because it's such a hit and for the connection to BR.


The potential bump in the popularity of archery is intriguing, especially as THG will be followed by another heroine in Disney/Pixar's Brave, which looks quite promising.

Ready for the Guillotines redux, HH?

[doug maverick]

Originally Posted by GeneChing

I'm pretty neutral about THG having never read the books (I haven't read any YA since Harry). I plan to see this eventually just because it's such a hit and for the connection to BR.


The potential bump in the popularity of archery is intriguing, especially as THG will be followed by another heroine in Disney/Pixar's Brave, which looks quite promising.

Ready for the Guillotines redux, HH?

did you fb jack me gene? lol...i posted this fb and was going to post it here but you beat me to it...either way this is hilarious. i think the first book is like battle royale but according to the girl im currently dating the other two books take on a different tone and feel...idk

[Hebrew Hammer]

Originally Posted by GeneChing

I'm pretty neutral about THG having never read the books (I haven't read any YA since Harry). I plan to see this eventually just because it's such a hit and for the connection to BR.

The potential bump in the popularity of archery is intriguing, especially as THG will be followed by another heroine in Disney/Pixar's Brave, which looks quite promising.

Ready for the Guillotines redux, HH?

Initially I was completely stoked about the Guillotines, imagine today's visual effects with the flying guillotine, it would have been awesome but then the release about not using the flying guillotine from the first movie cooled my jets. I haven't seen enough about the new film or trailers to reform my optimism.

Gene, I like archery have been reading some books about English archers and wonder why more films don't use it as the main characters weapons (aside from Legolas)...its completely lethal. There is a certain romance with the sword, although I prefer Hebrew Hammers, maces, morning stars, and Axes...HH like to smash, just my style. Have you seen the Korean film The War of Arrows?

[GeneChing]

dm - I did poach that off fb, but not from you. When you're an fb **** like me, your news is a constant stream of stuff like this. I saw your post there with this and thought you poached it from here.

HH - My latest ezine interview, Peter Lorge on CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS: FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY Part 2, opens with a short discussion of archery, and embedded in it is this crazy vid of a Chinese synchronized archery competition. Check it out. There is definitely a trend towards archery now with this, Brave and The Avengers (which features Hawkeye).

I saw your post on WoA but haven't seen it yet.

[kuniggety]

I'm still waiting to see it. I read the books but haven't seen the movie but my wife hasn't read the books and has seen the movie. She said that it was really well done and really liked it. I didn't feel that the books were tweeny and I don't think the movie is designed that way either.

[GeneChing]

Over $300 mill already.

This article caught my newsfeeds because of the title. Good ol' kung fu grip!

Warrior princess Barbie with kung fu grip
April 11, 2012 by ashleemaddy


Katniss Everdeen makes her Mattel debut.

Barbie, the iconic porcelain skinned, perfectly coiffed doll, is undergoing a Panem makeover. The unattainable hourglass figure will be donning the famous Mockingjay pin as the doll is re-imagined for battle in the Hunger Games arena.

No longer a perky blonde, Mattel’s Katniss doll includes Jennifer Lawrence’s hooded jacket and military style pants as well as her trusty bow and quiver –perfect for slaying diminutive Tributes.

Although I’m excited to see a 12-inch version of Katniss, I was a little surprised by Mattel’s partnership with the series. It’s hard to envision young girls who haven’t read Suzanne Collin’s books re-enacting the graphic battle scenes. Let’s face it, the Hunger Games arena is a far cry from the Pepto-Bismol pink of the Dream House. Given the mass popularity of the books and film, however, it’s a sound financial investment for the company and they have reiterated that the doll is intended for adult collectors. Rabid fans like myself will likely snatch up the doll quicker than supplies at the Cornucopia.

The doll led me to think of some other female characters that are unlikely to join Mattel’s lineup:

* Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in “Pulp Fiction” complete with Jack Rabbit Slim $5 shake, adrenaline shot and bloodied nose.

* Hit Girl from “Kick-Ass” — a deadly pre-pubescent assassin complete with butterfly knife, guns and a smattering of potty-mouthed phrases.

* Lizbeth Salander — main character in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo– complete with Taser gun, bondage equipment and tattoo needle.

* Daryl Hannah’s character, Elle Driver, in “Kill Bill” would come with syringe, nurse’s uniform and with or without both eyes.

The Katniss doll made her debut April 9 and is already backordered until August, so evidently the retail sale odds will be ever in Mattel’s favor.

[GeneChing]

Hunger Games given China green light
By Patrick Frater
Sun, 06 May 2012, 19:15 PM (HKT)
Distribution News

Global blockbuster, The Hunger Games has received approval for an early June theatrical release in China.

Liongate, the indie studio behind the film which has already grossed $620 million worldwide, confirmed that the film will be released in conjunction with its promotional partner Talent International. And it confirmed that the film will be subject to the new rules which lift the ceiling on film rentals in China to 25% of gross revenues.

"We view China as an increasingly important market for our content in Asia," said Wendy Reeds, executive vice president of content sales & distribution for Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), Lionsgate's joint venture partner in Asia, in a statement. "The Hunger Games' approval for nationwide release in China is a major step in translating the enormous commercial potential of this huge market into reality."

The film grossed $380 million in North America and has so far earned some $240 million in the rest of the world, with Japan and China yet to release.

Although the source material, which involves teenagers in a fight to the death in an annual contest, could be interpreted as challenging Chinese content standards, Lionsgate has long been confident that a release in China would be possible.

Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 36.5 million copies in print in the US alone, has developed a massive global following.

Wonder if it'll play Korea. They love archery there.

[GeneChing]

I found it entertaining, but it was all about Jennifer Lawrence. My wife saw Silver Lining Playbook and was quite impressed by her. It was my first exposure to J-Law's work and I can see what all the fuss is about. Without her, this film would have totally failed, mostly for the reasons everyone mentioned above. But J-Law has great screen presence, one of those actresses who makes the most of her impossibly long neck, and she elevated what would have been another fantasy-book-adaptation into something much more engaging. I look forward to seeing more of her, even if that means another face-plant at the Oscars. While there was no actual sword vs. sword fight, there was some sword choppin, an ok hallucination scene, some blood spitting (I think, the camera was jiggly), silly knife-tossin, silly camoflaging, but no Bollywood number (but wasn't the Capitol City parade just ripe for one? Maybe in part 2).

I really wanted J-Law to wind up with a frying pan for a weapon (That's a Battle Royale joke, in case you missed it )