The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Has Biggest Digital Launch In Lionsgate's History

Lionsgate has announced that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the biggest digital launch in the company's history. Catching Fire sold an estimated 3.9 million copies on DVD and Bluray in its first weekend alone, in North America, and increased digital sales by 40% over the first Hunger Games movie. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opened digitally at #1 across almost all major digital platforms, including iTunes, Xbox, Amazon, Vudu, Comcast Xfinity, Verizon FiOS, Google Play and Sony Entertainment Network. "This is a monster opening and a tremendous result for the second film in a franchise, underscoring the enormous momentum of The Hunger Games films," said Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate President and General Manager of Home Entertainment Sales & Distribution.  "Opening weekend packaged media sales of Catching Fire were comparable to the first Hunger Games title released nearly two years ago while digital sales grew by nearly 40%.  With strong increases in digital revenue and Blu-Ray accounting for 50% of packaged media sales, the opening weekend performance is driving significant margin growth and is a testament to the strength of the franchise." "We opened Catching Fire on nearly 20 digital platforms, including six that have launched since the home entertainment debut of the first Hunger Games film in 2012, and it was number one on almost all of them," said Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television & Digital Distribution Jim Packer.  "The broad demographic appeal of The Hunger Games franchise uniquely positions it for this surge in digital ownership." The Hunger Games: Catching Fire grossed $424 million at the box office in North America, earning the 10th highest-grossing domestic release ever.  The next two Hunger Games films, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Parts 1 & 2, will be released on November 21, 2014 and November 20, 2015, respectively.