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Wide Screen‘Hunger Games’ midnight screenings leave fans, celebrities wanting more
The odds were ever in its favour. According to Variety, Lionsgate's big-budget adaptation of Suzanne Collins' popular young adult novel "The Hunger Games" had a huge night Thursday. The industry pub estimates that the film may have pulled in between $25 million and $30 million thanks to sold-out midnight screenings.
Tickets for screenings were in such high demand that many theatres decided to add additional showings of the film… at 3 a.m. Now that's what you call dedication to a cause. And on a school night, no less!
Based on the strong presales and Thursday's huge midnight haul, industry insiders and box office watchers are predicting that the dystopian sci-fi film will pull in more than $120 million in its opening weekend. The massive success of the film brings new meaning to the term "overnight success," as it's sure to make bona fide celebrities out of actors Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth.
Even with tickets in hand, fans had to line up hours early to stake out the best seats in theatres. Many fans that attended midnight screenings of "The Hunger Games" reported cheering and applause throughout the film, and even the most hardcore fans seem to have come away pleased.
One fan, Megan Ott, who came to a Florida screening dressed as District 12 tribute Katniss Everdeen, told a local newspaper what she thought of the film. "I was a little disappointed with some of the minor things they cut out, but overall they did an incredible job and the movie was definitely worth the wait."
Celebrity fans of "The Hunger Games" also hit midnight screenings of the film and took to Twitter to tell the world about it. Late Thursday, apparently after just seeing the film, pop star Justin Bieber tweeted "what other movies do u and your friends wait for in the middle of the night. Hunger Games."
Meanwhile, self-described celebrity superfan Kristen Bell tweeted that she had joined "Hunger Games" director Gary Ross at a midnight screening of the movie in Los Angeles. Perhaps Bell's dreams of a role in the sequel aren't so far-fetched after all.
"The Hunger Games" is in theatres now.
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