So, The Hunger Games has made me think harder about the nature of cinema and its ability to influence an audience than any film that's come out this year, but it looks like, regardless of the film's subtexts, a lot of people just want to see pretty teenagers slaughter each other. It's no particular surprise that The Hunger Games sold more tickets for a midnight showing than any non-sequel in history, especially coming a couple of days after Fandango announced that it pre-sold more tickets than any previous non-sequel; one has to imagine that many of the Fandango tickets were for the exact same midnight shows. Still, the film's $19.75 million in midnight sales is an impressive feat, one rivaled only by the Twilight and Harry Potter films of last year.
While it's going to be a while before anything challenges Deathly Hallows: Part 2's ridiculous $169 million opening weekend from last year (I'd say The Dark Knight Rises has a shot at it), The Hunger Games is looking like it might beat out even the last couple of Twilight Saga films; New Moon conquered the box office when it opened with $142 million. Early (very early) predictions are that The Hunger Games could net as much as $150 million in its opening weekend, based on not just the midnight numbers but also extremely strong showings in matinees around the country.
So, mo' money for Lions Gate. Planning on seeing The Hunger Games this weekend and adding your chips to the pile? Or are you going to try and track down a showing of The Raid: Redemption?
I'm excited to go see this movie in just a couple of hours.
@Delta_Assault said:
OH SICK BURN
So, I've recently come around on my feelings about these breakout young adult movies.
While many of us may be happier if the biggest movies ever were things intended to be films in the first place, rather than novels shoehorned into film, there's a pretty damn big silver lining that I only just realized today. Being that these hits (Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games) are based on books, it means that many of the kids seeing these flicks have or will actually read them. And that's fucking huge.
I'm more than willing to have this medium we all love temporarily taken over by pre-teen hordes, as long as they're inspired to crack a book because of it.
I'm going on Monday night with my book club, but I bought my ticket yesterday. How does that count into ticket sales?
@sunalso said:
It will count towards those pre-sales totals, but the actual box office revenue from your admission will be recorded on Monday.
i am watching this. lol
Well, I dug the books, and rottentomatoes has this sitting pretty high, and Jennifer Lawrence is cool, and the series has some good moral messages so I'd say it's worthy. I look forward to seeing it.
@gangly said:
I agree with you. While I am 20, so therefore young, I read a TON when I was little (way above my reading level) and I credit it as one of the main reasons why I've done so well in school. Reading = better ability to write and comprehend, which factors into nearly everything.
The Hunger Games doesn't deserve to outrank the Dark Knight's opening weekend.
Anywho there's a very small chance of it becoming the highest grossing film of the year (both domestically and worldwide). TDKR for domestic and the Hobbit for the worldwide.
@Moviemaniac said:
I'll check it out Sunday afternoon. Hopefully the crowd won't be too crazy and I won't get a lot of weird looks being a 26 year old male... going alone.. but Jennifer Lawrence! Also how can you not want to see kids murdering kids, which is why I'm going to watch Battle Royal soon.
I was going to wait til next weekend but might try see it mid-week now. The hype is getting to me.
It's obvious what makes money today. Thanks to Harry Potter and Twilight, films based off books, that cater to teenage-to-adult females are what put people in the seat now-a-days. Good thing Marvel and DC found a niche early in the 21 Century, otherwise their comic book films would have bombed big time.
I really don't understand the hype this movie is receiving. I've seen the trailers and to me it just looks like a generic action movie, which has been cut back to ensure a low age rating.
@gangly: It's great that they are reading books, and it also surprises me that many people I know(college students) jumped on this hype train with the books. With that said a lot of the people I know who got into these books don't really read much else. They just stick with whats popular at the time.
Already seen Battle Royale so I'm good.
Bummer.
"Planning on seeing The Hunger Games this weekend and adding your chips to the pile? Or are you going to try and track down a showing of The Raid: Redemption?"
I will be watching John Carter, finally :)
It's terrific to see this comment thread full of ignorance and dumbassery from people who haven't seen or read the books.