Latest 'Hunger Games' Draws Sold-Out Crowd

By Austin Faust

           MURFREESBORO, Tenn.,-- The Carmike Wynnsong 16 hosted premiere showings of the latest installment in the “Hunger Games” film series, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1”, on Nov. 20, drawing a sold-out crowd of more than 800 eager fans .

           In preparation for the premiere, concessions employees made popcorn all day, even taking the excess and placing it into large bags to use if their popcorn warmers became empty over the course of the impending rush of customers.  All 16 theaters were equipped to show the film to meet a heavy customer demand.  An employee was placed outside of each theater to rip tickets and make sure that each customer made it into the correct theater.  The Wynnsong 16 sold out five theaters with an estimated total of more than 800 patrons.        

       

            “We have been preparing for this movie for months,” said Carmike employee Drew Helmke. “We have been selling tickets like crazy, so about two hours before the film actually started, our lobby was filled with people.  These movies are fun to work because fans show up in costumes and are so excited about the movie that it gives us a little joy making their night.”

            Theater managers are expecting fans to flock to the building during the holiday season to catch the new film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Donald Sutherland.  “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” is the first part of the two-part finale of the well-known book series that the films are based on.  A second film was added so more aspects of the books could be included.
  

           
          “I have been waiting for 'Mockingjay' since I saw 'Catching Fire' last November,” said local Riverdale High School student Chelsea Presley. “I loved the books and the movies, so seeing my favorite characters on screen is amazing.”

            The film follows Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, directly after the events of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” as she continues her rebellion against the Capitol who has captured her love interest Peeta Mellark.

 Increased budgets have given filmmakers the opportunity to add state-of-the-art effects and boost promotion, resulting in larger takes at the box office.  The first film “The Hunger Games” was filmed on a budget of $78 million, according to the International Movie Database, and drew in a gross of more than $400 million in the United States.  The second film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” was filmed on a budget of $130 million and drew in a gross of more than $420 million at the U.S. box office.  The latest two-part entry in the series, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay”, was filmed on a budget of $250 million and is poised to build on the success of previous installments.  The film will attempt to bring in the most money at the box office this year but has a mountain to climb after summer blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” brought in the highest box office total so far in 2014 at more than $700 million.

So far the film has received mixed reviews with some critics writing that it felt incomplete due to the splitting of the film.  Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a 66 percent rating and deemed it “fresh”, while audiences have given the film a 76 percent approval rating, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

            “These films seem to be bigger than most that we have over the course of the year because they have a huge fan base similar to the recent string of superhero films,” said Wynnsong 16 Assistant Manager Kailey Jackson. “As a theater, we definitely look forward to the “Hunger Games” movies to bring in a lot of business.”

            “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” will be showing over the holidays and is expected to draw massive crowds.

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