THE HUNGER GAMES​ – Arrives on Blu-ra​y, DVD, TVOD and EST​ on September 3rd

Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games juggernaut will arrive on home entertainment platforms on Monday 3^rd September, as the first film in Lionsgate’s (NYSE: LGF) The Hunger Games franchise. The film has already grossed nearly £24m at the UK box office and is approaching $650 million worldwide and will debut on 2-disc DVD, 2-disc Blu-Ray, TVOD and digital download. This is the biggest home entertainment launch in Lionsgate UK’s history, the Company announced today.

The film, based on the New York Times best-selling novel from writer Suzanne Collins, achieved a remarkable four-week run as the #1 film at the North American theatrical box office where it has already grossed $400 million, ranking as the 14^th highest-grossing film of all time, and it is approaching $650 million at the worldwide box office with a June release in China.

The 2-disc Blu-ray and 2-disc DVD arrive loaded with over three hours of extensive bonus materials including the comprehensive eight-part documentary, “The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games.” Other special features include a sit-down conversation with director Gary Ross as well as numerous featurettes that examine the global success of the books, the creation of the control room in the film and the filmmakers’ motivation behind creating new scenes that were not in the book, plus much more. The Blu-ray Disc set contains an additional exclusive feature, “Preparing for the Games: A Director’s Process,” which looks at the progression of taking three key scenes from the book to the screen. The Hunger Games is a must-have film that is hailed as “an essential science-fiction film for our times” – Robbie Collin – Daily Telegraph.  Fans will be able to pre-order the Blu-ray Disc and DVD, starting on Friday, June 15^th and will be told of the news, amongst other routes, onwww.theukwillbewatching.co.uk

“We are incredibly excited to bring The Hunger Games experience to UK homes this autumn.” said Nicola Pearcey, Managing Director, Home Entertainment and New Media. “This is far and away the biggest home entertainment launch in Lionsgate’s history and, further to the success of the theatrical box office, our home entertainment launch will involve a highly innovative and integrated digital and packaged media rollout which will be unveiled in the weeks ahead. Particularly exciting is the availability  of the 15 cert cut of the film on the Blu-ray, which was  unseen in UK cinemas.”

Directed by Academy Award^® nominee Gary Ross (Seabiscuit), The Hunger Games, starring Academy Award^® nominee Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone), features an ensemble cast that includes Golden Globe^® winner Donald Sutherland (Citizen X), Academy Award^® nominee Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones), Academy Award^®nominee Woody Harrelson (The People vs. Larry Flynt), Lenny Kravitz (Precious) and Emmy^® nominee Elizabeth Banks (TV’s “30 Rock”). The film also stars some of the industry’s brightest up and coming actors such as Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) and Liam Hemsworth (The Expendables 2).

The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy of books published by Scholastic that has already become a literary phenomenon with over 36.5 million copies in circulation. Set in the future, one male and one female from each of the twelve districts of the nation is forced to participate in the annual competition called The Hunger Games, which is broadcast live throughout the country for the entertainment of the Capitol’s wealthy residents. Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers in her younger sister’s place to enter the games, and is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy when she’s pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives.  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.

BLU-RAY & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES^*
·         “The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games” – an eight-part documentary covering the “making of” the film in all aspects from the pre-production process all the way through the theatrical release and fan reactions
·         “Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Phenomenon” featurette
·         “Letters from the Rose Garden” featurette – insights from Donald Sutherland on the development of his role as President Snow
·         “Controlling the Games” featurette – stories and concepts behind creating the control center
·         “A Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell”
·         Propaganda Film (in its entirety)
·         Marketing Archive
·         “Preparing for The Games: A Director’s Process” (Blu-ray Exclusive)
* Subject to change

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Year of Production: 2012
Title Copyright: © 2012 Lionsgate Films Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Cert: 12 (DVD and SD formats) and 15 (BD and HD formats)
Genre: Action/Adventure

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

DVD
Audio                                    Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (feature)
Audio Description                 Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Aspect ratio                          Anamorphic 2.40:1
Run time                              137 Minutes Approx.
Languages                           English
Subtitles                               English for the Hearing Impaired

BD
Audio                                   DTS-HD Master Audio Surround 7.1
Audio Description                Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Aspect ratio                         HD 2.40:1
Run time                             142 Minutes Approx.
Languages                          English

To experience The Hunger Games online, please visit:
Official Website: http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/
Launch microsite: http://www.theukwillbewatching.co.uk
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheHungerGamesUK
Official Twitter Page: @HungerGamesUK, #HungerGames

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate U.K. is the diversified UK-based filmed entertainment arm of Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF), the leading independent filmed entertainment studio. The company (formerly Redbus Film Distributors) was acquired by Lionsgate in October 2005 and has since established a reputation in the U.K. as a leading producer and distributor and acquirer of commercially successful and critically acclaimed product, recently releasing such box office hits as The Hunger Games, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Expendables, Harry Brown, Oscar and BAFTA winner The Hurt Locker, Coriolanus, A Dangerous Method, Little White Lies, Drag Me To Hell, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, I’ve Loved You So Long, 3.10 to Yuma, Good Luck Chuck, The Bank Joband Oscar-winning The Lives of Others in the U.K. Upcoming releases includeFriends With Kids, Magic Mike, The Expendables 2 and Keith Lemon The Film.