Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games — which begins its domestic rollout at midnight Thursday — is expected to generate big numbers out of the gate, based on sizable presales activity.
By Wednesday afternoon, the country’s top theater circuits — including AMC Entertainment, Cinemark and Regal Entertainment — already had whipped up north of $15 million in ticket sales, according to those who have seen the figures.
It’s likely that a sizable portion of the tickets are for midnight and Friday runs, though there are reports of Saturday sales as well. One exhibitor believes Hunger Games could rack up $20 million or more in midnight earnings, one of the best showings ever.
Full story: ‘Hunger Games’ mania: $15 mil-plus in advance ticket sales