# The Hunger Games: Opening Weekend Predictions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114 "2012-03-18T05:03:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/21 "2012-03-19T23:27:57Z")
It’s not just tween girls, I know a lot of people, including my wife and I, in the 25-40 demo - and split evenly between genders - that loved the books and are anxious to see the film. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/22 "2012-03-20T08:48:01Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Here’s an article about it: > > [Can 'The Hunger Games' Survive the Hype? - The Atlantic](http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/03/can-hunger-games-survive-hype/50073/) Even after reading that I still think the hype for The Hunger Games is pretty low key. So a few fanboys wrote a few articles relating to the movie. You can’t swing a dead cat on the Internet without reading someone’s quirky take on a popular entertainment product. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/23 "2012-03-20T09:26:26Z")
I enjoyed _Battle Royale_ (the film), but I can’t say I’ve heard anything about _The Hunger Games_ that makes me want to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/24 "2012-03-20T13:53:46Z")
I read **The Hunger Games** early on in its wave and thought it was a charming story. But I am more than a bit surprised about their plans to film the second book. The third book is phenomenally badly done and the whole story seemed to have run out of steam (the focus on the cat which was only briefly mentioned in the first and not at all, that I recall, in the second demonstrated to me that the author had nowhere to go). So my predictions- opening weekends: Book 1: $75m Book 2: $35m Book 3: doesn’t get made This is still one movie more than the other recent t(w)een “hit” that everyone now forgets: “His Dark Materials”. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/25 "2012-03-20T14:00:49Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Even after reading that I still think the hype for The Hunger Games is pretty low key. So a few fanboys wrote a few articles relating to the movie. You can’t swing a dead cat on the Internet without reading someone’s quirky take on a popular entertainment product. When a book spends 100 consecutive weeks on the NYT bestsellers list, with 1 million paid Kindle downloads, the movie version pretty much sells itself. I agree there hasn’t been “hype” machine action, but that’s because everyone already knows everything they need to know about it. I don’t remember a tone of “hype” for the first HP movie either. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/26 "2012-03-20T14:22:08Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Hunger Games seems to be bandied about as the next **Twilight** , both as novels and now as a film franchise. I haven’t read it, but it seems **marginally better written** if only in concept. But how did it compare in sales in printed form? Ooo, _harsh_! ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/27 "2012-03-20T14:52:02Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Ooo, _harsh_! LOL it’s not meant to be harsh. It’s supposed to be equivocating. I’ve read about it but haven’t read it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/28 "2012-03-20T15:06:52Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Even after reading that I still think the hype for The Hunger Games is pretty low key. So a few fanboys wrote a few articles relating to the movie. You can’t swing a dead cat on the Internet without reading someone’s quirky take on a popular entertainment product. I agree, and I’m a supporter of the movie and books. I honestly think my earlier prediction will be closer to reality and I will be gladly surprised if I am way under. I work in a middle school and the hype is…well, kind of non-existent. Or at best, low key. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/29 "2012-03-20T15:25:55Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Even after reading that I still think the hype for The Hunger Games is pretty low key. So a few fanboys wrote a few articles relating to the movie. You can’t swing a dead cat on the Internet without reading someone’s quirky take on a popular entertainment product. I may be a little more invested in the media than most so I’ve seen the many magazine covers, newspaper articles and pieces on television shows and radio, as well as the ads on radio and television. I’m sure there are fanboy (or fangirl) written articles on the internet but I haven’t sought those out. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/30 "2012-03-20T17:58:33Z")
I read the first book last night and I can’t say I’m overly impressed. It was a good read but it was definitely not written for a 30 year old man. I think it will make an entertaining movie but not a good movie. The book seems to be written as a series of short, potentially powerful scenes, with little continuity from one to the next. It jumps back and forth from high to low, exciting to boring, without ever really building to anything. It might be the perfect movie for short attention spans and memorable scenes, but I can’t see it being a great movie. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/31 "2012-03-20T18:20:29Z")
[Why is everyone afraid to just up and admit that this is a not very subtle case of theft and get on with it? This was done, really well, in book form many years ago. So, go and read the original version. There’s no cleverness or nobility in stealing someone else’s ideas.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Walk). Really. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/32 "2012-03-20T18:31:00Z")
Other than “many children in, one child out” it doesn’t really seem the same to me. If you’re going to claim idea theft there are other better examples to point to. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/33 "2012-03-20T18:45:09Z")
I am guessing similar to Twilight which grossed about $70 million. I am willing to up that since I think the timing is better for _Hunger Games_ (March coming out of a movie drought vs. November), so I think right around $100 million. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/34 "2012-03-20T18:47:18Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > [Why is everyone afraid to just up and admit that this is a not very subtle case of theft and get on with it? This was done, really well, in book form many years ago. So, go and read the original version. There’s no cleverness or nobility in stealing someone else’s ideas.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Walk). Isn’t the movie Battle Royale also about the same kind of topic? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/35 "2012-03-20T18:52:07Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Other than “many children in, one child out” it doesn’t really seem the same to me. If you’re going to claim idea theft there are other better examples to point to. Suzanne Collins says she got the idea for the setup from Greek mythology, specifically Theseus and the Minotaur. In the legend 14 children, specifically half male and half female and specifically known as “tributes” are sent to Crete, where it turned out, they were devoured by the Minotaur. Then, Theseus took the place of one of the selected tributes in order to slay the Minotaur. **Cartooniverse** – Unless you think “competition to the death in a dytopic future” is an idea only one person can have, no, I don’t see very many similarities at all to “The Long Walk.” The stories are pretty different, including with respect to the relationship between the characters, the manner of the competition, and with regard to the participation of the public. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/36 "2012-03-21T01:21:22Z")
I’ll readily admit that I’ve read “The Long Walk” a half-dozen times and have not read The Hunger Game" yet. I posted based on reviews, synopses etc. My apologies. I’ll read it, then re-post. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/37 "2012-03-21T02:35:10Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > When a book spends 100 consecutive weeks on the NYT bestsellers list, with 1 million paid Kindle downloads, the movie version pretty much sells itself. That’s my point. “Traditional” hype is almost nonexistent for The Hunger Games. This thing is riding solely on hype from the books. Maybe it’s time I bought some Lionsgate stock… > [@randwill](#): > > I may be a little more invested in the media than most so I’ve seen the many magazine covers, newspaper articles and pieces on television shows and radio, as well as the ads on radio and television. I’m sure there are fanboy (or fangirl) written articles on the internet but I haven’t sought those out. I’m not sure if a Jennifer Lawrence article in Redbook (or some other similar “mom” magazine) counts as hype for a tween movie. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/38 "2012-03-21T03:29:09Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > That’s my point. “Traditional” hype is almost nonexistent for The Hunger Games. This thing is riding solely on hype from the books. Maybe it’s time I bought some Lionsgate stock… > > I’m not sure if a Jennifer Lawrence article in Redbook (or some other similar “mom” magazine) counts as hype for a tween movie. I haven’t seen the Redbook article. If you haven’t noticed the other magazine covers (featured on Entertainment Weekly TWICE) it’s probably because you haven’t been in a book store or grocery store in the last few months. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/39 "2012-03-21T03:34:06Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > I haven’t seen the Redbook article. If you haven’t noticed the other magazine covers (featured on Entertainment Weekly TWICE) it’s probably because you haven’t been in a book store or grocery store in the last few months. I’ve seen them, but Jennifer Lawrence out of her Katniss makeup is more or less the poster child for “generic blonde actress.” She’s a good actress, don’t get me wrong, but unless she’s wearing a brunette wig the caption may as well say she’s January Jones or another thin young blonde. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114/40 "2012-03-21T04:16:38Z")
I’m a high school teacher and many of my students are excited about this movie. I’ve seen LOTS of kids this year reading the book. I’ve read it myself and enjoyed it for what it is. I’m on the third book now. I’ll probably go see the movie in a couple of weeks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hunger-games-opening-weekend-predictions/616114.md?page=3)