Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

Hunger Games Stays Atop The US Box Office

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The Hunger Games has cemented its position as a true movie powerhouse, managing the increasingly rare feat of staying top of the US box office for three weeks, passing through the $300 million mark as it did so. That puts it ahead of all the Twilight movies’ final tallies, suggesting Lionsgate has something truly exceptional on its hands.

However the real battle of the weekend was between Titanic and American Reunion, with many questioning which would end up in the second spot at the US bo office. In the end it was American Reunion with $21.5 million that won out, which was a long way off the last two theatrical Pie movies, but that’s perhaps not unexpected for a franchise that’s been out of cinemas for a decade.

Titanic came third with $17.3 million over the weekend and $25 million since it opened last Wednesday. It’s not an amazing box office take, but with the Titanic anniversary still to come and overseas reporting healthy business, it’s still likely to be viewed as a success by the end of its run.

Take a look below for the US box office top 10 for the weekend of April 6th-8th.

Rank Title Weekend Gross (millions) Total Gross to date (millions)
1 The Hunger Games $33.5 $302.8
2 American Reunion $21.5 $21.5
3 Titanic 3D $17.3 $25.7
4 Wrath Of The Titans $15.0 $58.8
5 Mirror Mirror $11.0 $36.4
6 21 Jump Street $10.2 $109.5
7 Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax $5.0 $198.2
8 Salmon Fishing In The Yemen $0.97 $4.6
9 John Carter $0.82 $67.9
10 Safe House $0.58 $124.7
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Gary Ross Won’t Direct Hunger Games Sequel

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A few days ago a report emerged saying that tough negotiations were going on between Lionsgate and director Gary Ross over the Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. Apparently it had been tricky coming to terms for the first movie and the follow-up was proving just as awkward.

At the time the report emerged, it seemed likely the two sides would sort thing out, and that Ross would indeed helm the movie. However it turns out that was wishful thinking as it’s now been revealed that Ross is officially out and has decided to go for a different movie that will give him a bigger paycheck and more control. The director had been offered a substantial pay rise for Catching Fire, but he decided he’s prefer to a different movie, based on his own original script. It’s also believed The Hunger Games was his favourite of Suzanne Collins’ book, and he had less interest in making the others.

Catching Fire will shoot this autumn for release November 2013, but Lionsgate will now have to rush to find a new director. (Source: The Playlist)

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Hunger Games Tops The US Box Office Again

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While it dropped nearly 60% from its record-breaking opening, The Hunger Games easily topped the US box office for a second weekend with $61.1 million, marking the seventh highest second-weekend ever.

It handily beat Wrath Of The Titans, which came in second with $34.2 million. That probably won’t bring massive amounts of cheer to Warner Bros. as it’s only half what the film of the Greek fantasy films took on its opening, although that film came out at the heights of excitement over 3D films.

Tarsem’s family fantasy take on Snow White, Mirror Mirror, came in third with $19 million. That’s considering a slight underperformance, as while it seems to have attracted young girls, teens and older women are still more interested in The Hunger Games. The hope is that with Easter coming this week, it will be able to continue making cash over the next couple of weeks.

Also making its first appearance in the top 10 was Salmon Fishing Of The Yemen, which added 350 screens and went from 16 to number 7 on the chart, with $1.2 million.

Take a look below for the US top 10 for March 30th to April 1st.

Rank Title Weekend Gross (millions) Total Gross to date (millions)
1 The Hunger Games $61.1 $251.0
2 Wrath Of The Titans $32.2 $32.2
3 Mirror Mirror $19.0 $19.0
4 21 Jump Street $15.0 $93.1
5 Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax $8.0 $189.6
6 John Carter $2.0 $66.2
7 Salmon Fishing In The Yemen $1.2 $3.1
8 Act Of Valor $1.0 $67.7
9 A Thousand Words $0.9 $16.5
10 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island $0.8 $98.4
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The Hunger Games Breaks Box Office Records

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There was no doubt The Hunger Games was going to be big, the only question was how big. Many were surprised last week when tracking said the film could open as high as $130 million in the US, but in the end even that turned out to be too conservative, as it ended up taking $155 million in its first three days in North America.

That’s the third biggest three-day opening ever, behind the final Harry Potter movie and The Dark Knight. The film also had the fifth biggest opening day ever, taking $68 million on Friday, and perhaps most surprisingly, by Saturday it had already become Lionsgate’s highest grossing movie ever. Worldwide the film took $214 million, a particularly impressive figure considering Suzanne Collins’ books are barely known in many countries.

It’s a hugely impressive start and has stunned many who had assumed this sort of opening was impossible for a non-sequel, but the film film lit the imagine of young people, most particularly young women, who are becoming an increasingly important demographic, having been largely igrnoed by Hollywood for years.

The only other new entry in the US top 10 was October Baby, a film that’s aimed squarely at conservative Christian viewers and which has an anti-abortion message. It took $1.7 million to place eighth.

Take a look below for the US box office top 10 for the weekend of 23rd-25th.

Rank Title Weekend Gross (millions) Total Gross to date (millions)
1 The Hunger Games $155.0 $155.0
2 21 Jump Street $21.3 $71.0
3 Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax $13.1 $177.3
4 John Carter $5.0 $62.3
5 Act Of Valor $2.0 $65.9
6 Project X $1.9 $51.7
7 A Thousand Words $1.9 $14.9
8 October Baby $1.7 $1.7
9 Safe House $1.4 $122.6
10 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island $1.3 $97.1
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Is Hunger Games Star Josh Hutcherson A Hottie? (Gallery)

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It’s always difficult to know with child actors – what point are you allowed to stop thinking of them as a kids and when are you actually allowed to start fancying them? (I still feel a bit dirty when I go ‘phwoar’ at Daniel Radliffe) However I think 21-year-old Josh Hutcherson has certainly crossed over from being the sweet young star of Bridge To Terabithia and Zathura to the rather studly man we’ve seen in Journey 2 and The Hunger Games.

He’s also incredibly gay-friendly, taking time out from his schedule to promote gay rights and most particularly gay-straight alliances in school (you can read more about that here).

With The Hunger Games – in which Hutcherson plays Tribute Peeta – reaching cinemas today, we thought we’d offer a bit of an appreciation of Josh in the film with the image gallery below. Is he a hottie? We think so!

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The Hunger Games (Cinema)

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As many know by now, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is a young adult bestseller that’s become a phenomenon around the world. It’s now been transferred to the screen and is one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year. So far the novel trilogy has amassed over 26 million in book sales (mostly due to popular word of mouth) and this will no doubt grow after the pretty much inevitable success of the movie.

The Hunger Games is set in North America in a dystopian future. The Hunger Games have been introduced by the government as a tactic invented to help control and punish each District for a previous uprising. Each of the 12 Districts have to select a male and female teenager, who must then all fight each other to the death in a televised event, for the honour and hope of their Districts. [Read more…]

First Hunger Games Clip Debuts

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All the indicators suggest that the months of hype have worked and that The Hunger Games will hit it huge when it’s released on March 23rd, with some already forecasting a $100 million plus US opening for the movie. Now the first clip from the film has been released, which is short but shows Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) showing that she’s pretty impressive with a bow.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing 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 is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. 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. THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 16 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following.’

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Writer Simon Beaufoy Confirmed For Hunger Games Sequel Catching Fire

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The Hunger Games may not have been released yet, but Lionsgate has already set a release date for the sequel, and so work’s already well underway on Catching Fire. The presumption has been that writer Simon Beaufoy and director Gary Ross would return, and now TheWrap has confirmed that.

Ross had apparently wanted to write the script himself, but post-production work on Hunger Games meant that was impossible. As a result Beaufoy is currently at work writing Catching Fire, under Gary Ross’ supervision. Hunger Games stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are already tied in to return as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.

It isn’t known when production may begin on Catching Fire, but it’s been slated for release on November 22, 2013.

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New Hunger Games Poster Is A Puzzle

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Yesterday Lionsgate released tiny puzzle-piece bits of a new Hunger Games poster to various different websites for industrious fans to play with. It appears someone under the Twitter handle johnshoward was the first to gather all the bits together and put them together, and the result is the rather cool image above!

Here’s the official synopsis: ‘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 is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. 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.’ The Hunger Games hits cinemas on March 23rd.

General movie news courtesy of Movie Muser

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Simon Beaufoy Wanted To Write Hunger Games Sequel

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With it looking more and more likely that Lionsgate’s adaptation of The Hunger Games will be a huge success, the studio is already getting keen that the planned sequel happens as soon as possible. So while Hunger Games won’t hit theaters until March 23, they want the script for Catching Fire started well before then and Deadline reports they’re seeking Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours’ Simon Beaufoy to write it.

The original plan was to have Hunger Games director Gary Ross team up with author Suzanne Collins to write the sequel, since they wrote most of The Hunger Games’ script. However, a tight post-production schedule means Ross doesn’t have time to work on the Catching Fire script is there’s any hope of keeping to the schedules Lionsgate wants.

Apparently Beaufoy and Lionsgate have not entered into discussions yet, but the studio is reportedly very high on getting Simon Beaufoy. Back in August Lionsgate set a November 22, 2013 release date for Catching Fire, so the clock is already ticking.

General movie news courtesy of Movie Muser

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