The Hunger Games (movie)

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Hunger Games took down Titanic 3D Anniversary and could repeat as #1 again, if it comes in #2 it will be just behind Ameican Pie Reunion

Yeah so much for audiences only wanting to see it once, should comfortably reach $325-350m by the time it starts to wane. Not too shabby for a $78m film with a small ad budget

Who needs an ad budget when you've got that many books in print and rabid legions waiting for the film?

[markatisu]

Who needs an ad budget when you've got that many books in print and rabid legions waiting for the film?

Agreed, but that does not stop studios a lot of the time

[mbaker]

Well, all I can say is this...

GO, KATNISS!!!!!!

Girl, you on fire!!

[markatisu]

Seriously, I figured this week it would be #2 (just behind) but another week at #1 with a small drop off

It should keep doing well through April, there are no really big movies coming out until The Avengers on 5/4

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

As I said, I'm going to be really interested to see how it performs in dvd. Again, I know the dvd market is way off, but this is a huge film. I still maintain it's not going to do amazingly well in dvd just because it strikes me as the kind of film you don't see over and over, like Harry Potter of Pirates. To me it just seems it's a solid film -- if borrowed a lot from other films -- but doesn't have the kind of epic sweep of a Star Wars or Avatar or a number of incredible scenes that make you want to see it again and again and again. If you loved any of the Star Wars films, think how many times you've seen them over the years. I could watch WRATH OF KHAN six times in one day and still not get tired of it. HG doesn't strike me as having that kind of watchability.

I still can't help but feel that so much of its success is because of the (well deserved) success of the book and that the novelty will drop off after it comes out on dvd.

Again, as always, it's just my opinion and I could be completely wrong. We'll see.

[markatisu]

As I said, I'm going to be really interested to see how it performs in dvd. Again, I know the dvd market is way off, but this is a huge film. I still maintain it's not going to do amazingly well in dvd just because it strikes me as the kind of film you don't see over and over, like Harry Potter of Pirates. To me it just seems it's a solid film -- if borrowed a lot from other films -- but doesn't have the kind of epic sweep of a Star Wars or Avatar or a number of incredible scenes that make you want to see it again and again and again. If you loved any of the Star Wars films, think how many times you've seen them over the years. I could watch WRATH OF KHAN six times in one day and still not get tired of it. HG doesn't strike me as having that kind of watchability.

I still can't help but feel that so much of its success is because of the (well deserved) success of the book and that the novelty will drop off after it comes out on dvd.

Again, as always, it's just my opinion and I could be completely wrong. We'll see.

You do realize there are 3 books though and 2 more movies coming right? I mean not that it has anything to do with the DVD sales of the film but the way you talk its as if this is one and done and its just the 1st part

[Divia]

Can I just say I had the MC's name.

I thought people were calling her cat and then catnip. I'm like what???

[mbaker]

I still maintain it's not going to do amazingly well in dvd just because it strikes me as the kind of film you don't see over and over, like Harry Potter of Pirates. To me it just seems it's a solid film -- if borrowed a lot from other films -- but doesn't have the kind of epic sweep of a Star Wars or Avatar or a number of incredible scenes that make you want to see it again and again and again. If you loved any of the Star Wars films, think how many times you've seen them over the years. I could watch WRATH OF KHAN six times in one day and still not get tired of it. HG doesn't strike me as having that kind of watchability.

I still can't help but feel that so much of its success is because of the (well deserved) success of the book and that the novelty will drop off after it comes out on dvd.

Again, as always, it's just my opinion and I could be completely wrong. We'll see.

Very good point. 'The Hunger Games' is quite an interesting box office phenomenon. Very few successful movies have ever dealt with controversial topics, and despite it's dark subject matter where the government has kids killing each for their own amusement, it's handled rather well. You have people who are unhappy with overreaching government, and reality television all over the place that this movie presents them in their most extreme conclusion. That's probably why so many people have gravitated to this film. While the story barrows from other movies like '1984', 'Rollerball', 'Lord Of The Flies', 'The Running Man', ect. it offers A fresh spin on most of their story elements. Plus, you finally have A strong female lead who's not A manufactured 'Disney Channel' pop tart, A spoiled rich starlet who's drunk with power, or A weak minded emo girl who wants to marry A controlling, manipulative stalker. Who knows if this will finally convince Warner Bros. that A 'Wonder Woman' movie might actually work, but regardless, 'The Hunger Games' is certainly A 'game' changer in more ways than one.

[Divia]

I doubt it

All my friends I recommended to read it I told them "There is a part in the second book when you read it you will go 'OH ****', and then text me saying 'OH ****'." Every one of them did it

Actually, the overall plot I got. Its as I figured it would be No offense, but it was pretty easy to figure out. Granted, I didn't get all the twist and turns but the big ones I got right or 97% right. I read the write up on Wiki. Sorry, but its my job to know YA books, and I'm a writer. There are only so many ways this could play out.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

You do realize there are 3 books though and 2 more movies coming right? I mean not that it has anything to do with the DVD sales of the film but the way you talk its as if this is one and done and its just the 1st part

No, not at all, Mark. And trust me, as the father of a twelve-year old who -- along with almost all of his friends -- is crazy about the book series, I full well realize it's going to be here for a long, long time. And I'm sure it will be successful.

My fascination is simply with the DVD sales, which I feel are apart from the theatrical box office. I'm merely talking about the 'watchability' -- i.e., wanting and yearing to see a film over and over because of all the combined elements in it -- of the film, and watchability is often a substantive factor when it comes to DVD sales. I will find it interesting to see how it performs because, imho, I think the large theatrical viewing audience it is enjoying will not translate to huge DVD sales because I just don't think the film is that watchable -- successful, sure; but watchable I'm not so sure about. Of course I'm not the target demographic so I may be entirely wrong on this. But comparing it to the watchable-ness of PIRATES or POTTER(s) I jsut don't think it stacks up.

[markatisu]

Hunger Games is #1 for the 4th weekend in a row with $21m for a total so far of $337.1m

[mbaker]

Go katniss! Go katniss!

It's your birthday! It's your birthday!

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

GO KATNISS! GO KATNISS!

IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY! IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!

(No seriously, today is in fact Jennifer Lawrence's birthday.)

I'm guessing it will be a happy one for her.

[mbaker]

I'm guessing it will be a happy one for her.

Actulally, it's on August 15th, so my bad.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Actulally, it's on August 15th, so my bad.

Know what? I've got a hunch every day's happy for her lately.

[GeologyMule]

Hunger Games is #1 for the 4th weekend in a row with

The last movie to pull that off was Avatar

[markatisu]

The last movie to pull that off was Avatar

Yeah it may be able to do it one more week before Avengers comes, I don't see it holding on much after that.

But they have had to revise the box office run estimate 3 times now. First it was going to top out at $300m, then $350m, now they are revising it again for $375-400m

People keep going back to see it I guess, it has already made more than any single Twilight movie probably because it attracted a adult and a young male demo whereas Twilight is almost exclusive to young females

[krosfyah]

In America first you write about angsty teens,
Then you get the money
Then you get the power.

[JonWes]

I think fighting for survival goes a bit beyond angst, surely.

[krosfyah]

I think fighting for survival goes a bit beyond angst, surely.

Teens think EVERY fight is for their survival.

just a note i haven't seen the movie or read the books, just making a little snide remark.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Very good point. 'The Hunger Games' is quite an interesting box office phenomenon. Very few successful movies have ever dealt with controversial topics, and despite it's dark subject matter where the government has kids killing each for their own amusement, it's handled rather well. You have people who are unhappy with overreaching government, and reality television all over the place that this movie presents them in their most extreme conclusion. That's probably why so many people have gravitated to this film. While the story barrows from other movies like '1984', 'Rollerball', 'Lord Of The Flies', 'The Running Man', ect. it offers A fresh spin on most of their story elements. Plus, you finally have A strong female lead who's not A manufactured 'Disney Channel' pop tart, A spoiled rich starlet who's drunk with power, or A weak minded emo girl who wants to marry A controlling, manipulative stalker. Who knows if this will finally convince Warner Bros. that A 'Wonder Woman' movie might actually work, but regardless, 'The Hunger Games' is certainly A 'game' changer in more ways than one.

Again, I could not possibly agree with you more regarding the female role model issue. For me it's what saves the film. I found the film predictable and, as we've both said, derivative, even if it does throw in a few new takes. Seriously, could anyone not see how this film was going to end within half an hour into it?

But it's true about the female role model. It's so important -- and so lacking in the majority of films -- that it redeems the film for me. Hence my B -. And, as always, that's just my opinion and I should only be so lucky (please, Gawd!) as to some day be involved in a film that does half a billion in box office in the blink of an eye.

[mbaker]

So, who's the better archer? Katniss, or Hawkeye?

[HarryCanyon]

Very good point. 'The Hunger Games' is quite an interesting box office phenomenon. Very few successful movies have ever dealt with controversial topics, and despite it's dark subject matter where the government has kids killing each for their own amusement, it's handled rather well. You have people who are unhappy with overreaching government, and reality television all over the place that this movie presents them in their most extreme conclusion. That's probably why so many people have gravitated to this film. While the story barrows from other movies like '1984', 'Rollerball', 'Lord Of The Flies', 'The Running Man', ect. it offers A fresh spin on most of their story elements. Plus, you finally have A strong female lead who's not A manufactured 'Disney Channel' pop tart, A spoiled rich starlet who's drunk with power, or A weak minded emo girl who wants to marry A controlling, manipulative stalker. Who knows if this will finally convince Warner Bros. that A 'Wonder Woman' movie might actually work, but regardless, 'The Hunger Games' is certainly A 'game' changer in more ways than one.

Hey Mbaker, seen Battle Royale? same thing like this movie only more graphic and gorier as it has the same idea of junior high kids in the future who have to destroy each other until one wins the game. It's an awesome and disturbing Sci-fi film that is one fo my fave Japanese films.

I was pleasantly suprised of how good this movie was and well done, it did reminded me of Battle Royale, 1984, Brazil, Mad Max trilogy, Death Race 2000, Running Man and Rollerball and was well acted and well made.

[mbaker]

Hey Mbaker, seen Battle Royale? same thing like this movie only more graphic and gorier as it has the same idea of junior high kids in the future who have to destroy each other until one wins the game. It's an awesome and disturbing Sci-fi film that is one fo my fave Japanese films.

Haven't seen 'Battle Royal' yet. Though I have seen 'The Running Man' once, and would like to see it again. Anyway, 'Hunger Games' just got the 'How It Should've Ended' treatment.

[markatisu]

I think it will be very interesting to see how HG performs on dvd. I could be wrong -- as I always say, it won't be the first time and it certainly won't be the last -- but I think HG is going to do really low volume in dvd sales, unlike AVATAR. Now to be fair, dvd revenues have been in a free fall for the last few years anyway -- although AVATAR was certainly a bright spot. But my point is that I don't think this is the kind of film a huge audience is going to want to watch again.

Theatrically there was the novelty aspect, the hype and an admittedly great series of books and it had a great opening. But I think a lot of people walked out of the theater with tepid feelings and I think that's going to translate into tragically low dvd revenues. Again, just my opinion, but that's how I see it.

I forgot to post this last month

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...,7823776.story

"The Hunger Games" put life into the stagnant home entertainment market this weekend, as fans snatched up 3.8 million DVDs and Blu-ray discs in the title's first two days on sale in the U.S. and Canada.

That's more than either of the last two "Twilight" films, whose launch pattern" The Hunger Games" mimicked. In February of this year, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1" sold 3.2 million DVDs and Blu-rays on its first weekend, while "Eclipse" debuted to 2.7 million units in December 2010.

About 1.3 million of the "Hunger Games" discs bought by fans were high-definition Blu-ray format, which are more profitable for the studio than standard-definition DVDs.

Lionsgate did not release digital sales or rental figures. The company said only that "The Hunger Games" set a record for the most ever sales through Zune, Microsoft's digital media store on its Xbox 360 video games console, the most total sales and rental transactions from Comcast, and the highest-ever single-day revenue for a Lionsgate title on Apple's iTunes Store.

Then almost a month later it is still #1 on the Charts

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...,1755168.story

So Jack I guess that was tragically low huh