The Hunger Games and Blockbuster release dates

[Argus Skyhawk]

As we all know, movies expected to be blockbusters are usually released in early summer or around the Holidays. The logical assumption is that since teenagers make up the biggest audience for movies, movies are likely to make more money when kids are on vacation from school.

Then Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland came along, followed a year later by The Hunger Games, showing that movies can also make a whole boatload of money in... March?

Anyway, when I heard about how well The Hunger Games was doing at the box office, my first thought was that the first sequel would probably get a summer release date, since Lionsgate now knows how huge the demand is. Then I thought, however, that Lionsgate might not want to mess around with what obviously works, so maybe they will be certain to release the next one in March again. Then I thought, hey, maybe this proves that a movie's release date really isn't all that crucial to its box office after all. So many kids nowadays are on year-round school schedules anyway.

What do you think? Do you think release dates really make that much difference in terms of box office?

 

[DimesDan]

As we all know, movies expected to be blockbusters are usually released in early summer or around the Holidays. The logical assumption is that since teenagers make up the biggest audience for movies, movies are likely to make more money when kids are on vacation from school.

Then Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland came along, followed a year later by The Hunger Games, showing that movies can also make a whole boatload of money in... March?

Followed two years later you'll find.

What do you think? Do you think release dates really make that much difference in terms of box office?

To be frank, no, if a film is out and I want to see it, when it's out is pretty irrelevant.

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

Followed two years later you'll find.

Oops. You're right.

 

[Brikar99]

"Fast Five" also brought in summer tent-pole numbers with an April release.

 

[The Wormhole]

The Matrix was released in April and became one of the most popular movies of 1999.

This is hardly anything new. While the summer and holidays are considered the big money-making times to release a movie, you'll find big money-makers being released at any time of the year.

Though The Hunger Games is perhaps unique since that was expected to bring in big bucks and got a March release anyway.

 

[Brikar99]

The Matrix was released in April and became one of the most popular movies of 1999.

Somehow I had it in my head that was an August release, but now I recall talking about it with classmates after the opening weekend.