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Tag: Hunger Games

  • Lionsgate reports Q1 loss of $44.2 mn

    Lionsgate reports Q1 loss of $44.2 mn

    MUMBAI: US film and entertainment studio Lionsgate has reported revenue of $471.8 million, adjusted EBITDA of $17.1 million, and net loss of $44.2 million for the first quarter ended 30 June 2012. The loss was in part due to theatrical marketing costs.
    Revenue in the first quarter increased by 81 per cent compared to $261.3 million in the prior year quarter, driven by the North American theatrical revenue of ‘The Hunger Games‘ and the films ‘Cabin In The Woods‘ and ‘What To Expect When You‘re Expecting‘ as well as revenue gains in the company‘s home entertainment business.
    Adjusted EBITDA of $17.1 million and EBITDA of $(13.4) million in the first quarter compared to EBITDA of $28.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $27.5 million in the prior year quarter and net loss of $(44.2) million in the first quarter compared to net income of $10.3 million in the prior year quarter due in part to an increase of $90 million in theatrical marketing costs associated with five releases in the quarter (including four wide releases) compared to one release in the prior year quarter.
    The company noted that all five releases are anticipated to be profitable on an ultimate basis.
    EBITDA and net loss in the quarter were also affected by increased G&A costs due primarily to increased stock-based compensation largely associated with the increase in the Company‘s stock price as well as increased costs associated with the integration of Summit Entertainment.
    Profitability in the quarter was also impacted by increased interest expense, a non-cash charge for early retirement of a significant portion of the Summit term loan debt and the application of purchase accounting required by GAAP.

    Lionsgate‘s film backlog was $992 million till 30 June 2012. Filmed entertainment backlog represents the amount of future revenue not yet recorded from contracts for the licensing of films and television product for television exhibition and in international markets.
    Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said, “We completed our first quarter on target for our fiscal year and our three-year plan. Our financial results in the quarter were affected by marketing costs for a slate of five films, primarily noncash stock-based compensation and a noncash charge for paying down a significant portion of our Summit term loan debt early. However, with two-thirds of the profitability of the first HUNGER GAMES film still ahead, we anticipate that the combined benefits of our Summit acquisition, the strength of our young adult franchises and the continued evolution of our television business will translate into significant and growing contributions for the balance of our three-year plan.”
    Overall motion picture revenue for the first quarter was $406.5 million, an increase of 111 per cent from the prior year quarter. Within the motion picture segment, theatrical revenue was $137.6 million, a fivefold increase from the prior year first quarter, attributable to the box office performance of The Hunger Games, the 12th highest-grossing North American release of all time, and the other theatrical releases mentioned above.
    Lionsgate‘s home entertainment revenue from both motion pictures and television was $145.5 million in the first quarter compared to $92.9 million in the prior year quarter driven by five major DVD and digital releases in the quarter.
    Television revenue included in motion picture revenue was $37.1 million in the first quarter, a decrease of 14 per cent from the prior year quarter.
    International motion picture revenue of $48.6 million (excluding Lionsgate U.K.) for the first quarter increased more than fourfold from the prior year quarter driven by the worldwide theatrical release of ‘The Hunger Games‘ as well as revenue contributions from the ‘Twilight‘ films, ‘Cabin In The Woods‘, ‘What To Expect When You‘re Expecting‘ and ‘Man On A Ledge‘.
    Lionsgate UK revenue was $32.6 million, a nearly threefold increase from the prior year quarter, on the strength of a theatrical slate driven by ‘The Hunger Games‘ and Lionsgate UK‘s ‘Salmon Fishing In The Yemen‘ Television production revenue was $65.3 million in the first quarter, a decline of 5 per cent compared to the prior year quarter due primarily to fewer deliveries from the company‘s Debmar-Mercury syndication arm offset in part by increased digital media revenue from ‘Weeds‘ seasons six and seven and Mad Men season five in their home entertainment windows.

  • Think Like a Man debuts with $33 million

    Think Like a Man debuts with $33 million

    MUMBAI: Think Like a Man scored one of the best openings in recent memory for an African-American themed film debuting at $33 million. It may well topple Liongate‘s blockbuster The Hunger Games which has now grossed $357 million domestically.
    Think Like a Man is about four men whose love lives are disrupted when their partners begin using advice from Harvey‘s book and received an A CinemaScore. The film made for a modest $12 million to $13 million, follows the success of Screen Gems‘ The Vow and Underworld Awakening earlier this year, and marks another victory for Screen Gems‘ Clint Culpepper.
    “In terms of African-American themed films, Think Like a Man exceeded many of Tyler Perry‘s recent films. Perry‘s Good Deeds debuted to $15.6 million earlier this year, while last year‘s Madea‘s Big Happy Family opened to $25.1 million last year.
    Warner Bros.‘ film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks‘ The Lucky One came in at No. 2 turning in a better-than-expected $22.8 million in a boost for Zac Efron. The film received a B+ CinemaScore.
    Overseas, Lucky One opened to a strong $3.8 milion from only nine territories, with $2.5 million coming from Australia, where it bumped holdover Battleship from the No. 1 spot.
    After ruling the domestic box office for four consecutive weekends, the most since Avatar — Lionsgate‘s Hunger Games fell to No. 3, grossing $14.5 million for a domestic total of $357 million.

  • Hunger Games grosses $33.5 mn in third weekend

    Hunger Games grosses $33.5 mn in third weekend

    MUMBAI: In its third weekend, Lionsgate‘s The Hunger Games topped the domestic box office falling narrowly by 43 per cent to $33.5 million for a total gross of $302.8 million.
    On the other hand, American Reunion followed by James Cameron‘s 3D makeover of Titanic earned $21.5 million and $35.5 million respectively. Warner Bros.‘ Wrath of the Titans stood at No. 1 film internationally earning $43 million from 60 markets.
    Titanic, handicapped by its lengthy running time (195 minutes), did open higher than the recent 3D rerelease of George Lucas‘ Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith ($22.5 million) and Beauty and the Beast ($17.8 million).
    Paramount president of domestic marketing and distribution Megan Colligan said Titanic 3D isn‘t a limited engagement, and expects the 3D rerelease to have exceptionally good word of mouth. “There‘s something very special about seeing it again on the big screen. It‘s an experience,” she said.
    Titanic 3D played in 2,674 theaters, including 79 IMAX locations, which turned in 8 percent of Saturday‘s total gross alone. More IMAX screens will be added next weekend. For the five days, IMAX turned in $2 million, and boasted nine of the pic‘s top 10 theaters.
    The rerelease of Titanic — timed to the 100th anniversary of the real-life sinking of the luxury liner — received an A CinemaScore and drew plenty of younger moviegoers, particuarly females. Of those buying tickets, 51 percent were under the age of 25, while 60 per cent were female.In financial terms, both Titanic 3D and American Reunion already seem to be on strong ground.
    Domestically, Titanic 3D, that cost $18 million to convert couldn‘t match last fall‘s 3D rerelease of The Lion King, which opened to a stellar $30.1 million on its way to grossing $94.2 million domestically.

  • S. Korean company creates 4DX for interactive viewing experience

    S. Korean company creates 4DX for interactive viewing experience

    MUMBAI: A South Korean company has created an interactive viewing experience called 4DX that simulates a film‘s environment in films like Cameron‘s, Titanic as well as recent release The Hunger Games.
    Unlike D-Box Technologies‘ motion-simulation seats, 4DX features chairs that pitch and roll according to the motion of the action within the film. It also includes features like “short bursts of sharp air” and “face water” to put the viewer in the middle of the on-screen environment.
    James Cameron‘s Titanic, that was re-released in 3D this week, invited critics to trot out familiar arguments about the pointlessness of the technology except as a means to increase ticket prices and squeeze a few extra dollars out of devoted fans.
    Not unlike D-Box Technologies‘ motion-simulation seats, 4DX features chairs that pitch and roll according to the motion of the action within the film. But it also includes such features as “short bursts of sharp air” and “face water” to put the viewer in the middle of the on screen environment.
    Presumably the volume of these atmospheric flourishes is modulated – or else Titanic fans may find themselves struggling to see the film during the ship‘s climactic descent into the ocean.
    CJ 4DPlex Co. launched 4DX in 2009, and is using the technology to enhance the viewing experience of The Hunger Games, John Carter and The Avengers in addition to Titanic.

    The company hopes to reach more than 800 auditoriums by 2016.

  • Hunger Games grosses $250 mn in 10 days

    Hunger Games grosses $250 mn in 10 days

    MUMBAI: New releases Wrath of the Titans and Mirror Mirror could not survive the wrath of Hunger Games. The Lionsgate film, in its second weekend, grossed $61.1 million crossed $250 million in only 10 days-the fastest ever for a non-sequel.

    Hunger Games grossed $34.8 million in its second weekend of play at the foreign box office, putting its cume at $113.9 million and global total at $364.9 million.
    Wrath of the Titans grossed $34.2 million, compared to the $61.2 opening of Clash of the Titans two years ago. Warner‘s knew the sequel wouldn‘t match that number since Clash of the Titans opened on Good Friday, a holiday.
    “We made the decision to open even with Hunger Games and the NCAA Final Four baskeball games so that we could play through the heart of the holidays,” said Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman.
    Fellman pointed out that Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows also opened to substantially less than the first Sherlock Holmes, or $39.6 million versus $62.3 million, but that the sequel eventually caught up and has now surpassed the first film.
    Wrath of the Titans did far better overseas over the weekend, opening to $78 million and beating Hunger Games, which has been a softer play internationally outside of English-speaking territories. Wrath‘s global opening is $112.2 million.
    Wrath of the Titans, playing in a total of 4,127 locations, drew 65 per cent of its revenues from 3D runs. That included including more than 290 IMAX theatres, which generated $4.7 million in ticket sales, or 14 per cent of the total gross. Domestically, Wrath received a B+ CinemaScore, compared with a B for Titans.
    On the other hand, Mirror Mirror succeeded in luring families, who made up 60 per cent of the audience. While kids under the age of 12 made up 37 per cent of the audience, their parents made up 23 per cent.
    Mirror… is the first of two Snow White movies opening this year, though Universal‘s Snow White and the Huntsman, which bows in the summer, isn‘t a family film.