Sci-Fi Storm

The Hunger Games showed that it really is as strong as expected as it cleared over $250 million domestically with $61.1 million in it’s second weekend, which handily beat two anticipated newcomers – Wrath of the Titans, the sequel to Clash of the Titans, which came in second with $34.2M, a little better than half what it’s predecessor opened with, and third place Mirror, Mirror, the comedic take on Snow White starring Julia Roberts, at $19M.

I finally got to see The Hunger Games, and I have to say…it’s worthy of the hype. And I have not read the book – yet. I will be, but I prefer in these cases to see the movie first, so as to not be disappointed at what was left out, or the imagery being “wrong”.

From the start of the movie, although it can be considered a slow start, there is an intensity that builds without requiring the combat which comes later. The setting of they story is told sufficiently, if not completely – some things do get kind of glossed over. At one point, I thought the “country” was called “Pan-Am”, but it is really “Panem”, from the Latin panem et circenses, or “Bread and Circuses” – a fitting name.
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The Hunger Games simply demolished the weekend box office, with an expected $155 million total domestic take for the weekend which places it third all time behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 ($162.2m) and The Dark Night ($158.4m), while eclipsing both of The Twilight Saga‘s recent issues, New Moon ($142.m) and Breaking Dawn, Part 1 ($138.1m), as well as Spider-Man 3 ($151.1m). This also means it is the biggest opening all time for a non-sequel. Go Katniss!

Update 3/26: The actuals from the weekend placed it slightly lower, at $152.5 million, but still safely in 3rd place.

It appears that The Hunger Games is poised to be a massive blockbuster, even beyond expectations. With an audience that is now drawing from not just the young, female audience but all ages and males as well, it has already set the bar for the highest midnights gross for a non-sequel at $19.75 million, and the 7th highest all time. And some analysts are now looking it it possibly exceeding the recent weekend take of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, which took in $138 million.

In just over a month, the highly anticipated The Hunger Games hits the screens. To help promote the movie, fans in some cities will have the opportunity to meet the tributes as they embark on a national mall tour, kicking off on March 3rd in Los Angeles!

Cast members including Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson will be participating in local festivities on the eight-city tour, sponsored by the Microsoft Store, China Glaze, and h2O Spring Water. Fans in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Phoenix, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, and Minneapolis can participate in Q&As and enter giveaways to win Hunger Games Gear.

Check out the schedule for who, where and when…then catch the latest TV spots (via ScreenRant):
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A new trailer for The Hunger Games was released today, which you can see below – but also with just 50 days left until release, Lionsgate is celebrating by offering tickets to the premiere in LA – but through 50 different web sites, and you have to find them on Twitter! Search for hash tag #HungerGames50 to located the sites and enter!
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The trailer debuted on Good Morning America this morning, but now it is available worldwide and you can see it right here!

In an attempt to preserve the anticipation and mystery that fans are relishing, the trailer only shows footage from the first half of the film, chronicling events leading up to but not including the Games themselves. After giving fans their first look at all of the book’s beloved characters brought to life, giving viewers who haven’t read the book vital information about the world of Panem, the trailer ends with an electrifying cliffhanger right as Katniss enters the arena.

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If you missed the MTV Music Awards (yes, they still have those…) where they showed the official sneak peek of the highly anticipated The Hunger Games movie, based on the bestselling [asin=0545265355]first book of a trilogy by Suzanne Collins[/asin], here’s your chance! See the very first glimpse at how the adaptation of the Suzanne Collins’ bestseller will be brought to life on the big screen on March 23, 2012! The Hunger Games is directed by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville) and features an all-star cast including Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men: First Class ), Josh Hutcherson (Red Dawn), Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland), Elizabeth Banks (Our Idiot Brother), Donald Sutherland (Horrible Bosses) and Lenny Kravitz.

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss (Lawrence) is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy (Harrelson). If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.