Box Office: 'Taken 3' Steals #1 with $40M; 'Selma' Opens with $11M

1. Taken 3- $40.4M
There was never any doubt that Taken 3 would be the first big hit of 2015. Of course that would be the case, and it's largely why these badly-reviewed movies keep opening when they do. Hyped as the final time for Liam Neeson to show off his "particular set of skills" as Bryan Mills, the film $40.4M opening is extraordinary given the poor response to Taken 2, which opened with $49M back in 2012 and ended up with $376M worldwide. These films have always had a strong international following and chances are Taken 3 will as well, and when all the numbers are added up it's going to be hard for Europa and 20th Century Fox to shut this franchise down no matter how much it needs to end.
2. Selma- $11.2M
After a modest Christmas Day debut to qualify for the Oscars, Ava DuVernay's Selma expanded to over 2000 theaters and earned a solid $11.2M. That's not bad given the $20M budget for the civil rights drama which centers on Martin Luther King's march for voting rights back in 1965. The film has had incredible word of mouth and a ton of Oscar buzz, and there seems to be a genuine movement to get people out to see it. For one thing, many people are pushing for DuVernay to succeed where so many other indie directors have failed when given the reigns to high-profile projects. While there has been some push back on some of the portrayals in the film that probably won't hurt its momentum. On the other hand Selma isn't quite the easy sell as last year's The Butler which had a marketable cast and could be positioned as less depressing than 12 Years a Slave.
3.Into the Woods- $9.7M/$105.2M
4. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies- $9.4M/$236.5M
5. Unbroken- $8.3M/$101.6M
6. The Imitation Game- $7.6M/$40.8M
7. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb- $6.7M/$99.5M
8. Annie- $4.9M/$79.4M
9. The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death- $4.8M/$22.3M
10.The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1- $3.7M/$329.5M

For an indication just how jam-packed the Oscar season can get, and how beneficial awards buzz can be, just take a look at the movie's on the bottom end of the scale. Reese Witherspoon's Wild continues to perform well with another $2.7M and $30.3M total; and American Sniper brought in another $555K in only four locations for a $3.1M haul before going wide release next week. Also debuting was Paul Thomas Anderson's druggie detective comedy Inherent Vice, which expanded and brought in $2.9M for a $4.8M total. Let's face it, Anderson's movies have never been big sellers (The Master only made $28M worldwide) and Inherent Vice comes with its own challenges such as the R-rating, genre, and '70s setting.

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'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' Starts 2015 Off With a First Place Finish

1. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies- $21.9M/$220M
I've yet to fully understand the decision to split the one book of 'The Hobbit' into three movies..how am I kidding, of course I do....money. Personally I think it was a mistake and it shows. It's easy for us to sit in our suburban homes criticizing the sell-outs of Hollywood but let's be honest. If you have a property that you can stretch in to three 9 figure paydays as opposed to one are you really going to take the artistic route? Didn't think so.

2. Into the Woods- $19M/$91M
The silver screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical was all the rage amongst it's audience. Wondering if your in that audience? Do you have Once Upon a Time DVR'd? You're in that audience. Personally I found the film to be a bit more than a let down but it would appear that enough of you disagreed to keep it in the #2 spot.

3. Unbroken- $18.3M/$87.8M
The film's mantra of "If you make it, you can take it" must have wiggled into the real world as Angelina Jolie's story of an Olympic champion turned Japanese POW wills itself into the number three spot in it's second week of release.

4. The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death- $15.1M
The follow up to Daniel Radcliffe's first post-Potter outing failed to make a huge splash but at $15 million it's definitely a respectable take for a lower budget horror movie in the black hole that is early January.

5. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb- $14.4M/$89.7M
When you consider this is the fourth entry in the series and Ben Stiller is about 6 years past time as a "Hot" hollywood actor the $89.7M total take over three weeks is definitely respectable but given the ensamble (most of which are also past their Hollywood expiration date) and the lack of family friendly competition, it's not all that surprising. I'm just thankful that Robin Williams has another film coming out...I'd hate to see him go the way of Raul Julia who's final film was Street Fighter.

6. Annie $11.4M/$72.6M
Really? Annie hasn't broken the $100M mark after three weeks? I have to be honest this is one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. A time honored film updated with the adorable and talented Quvenzhané Wallis and it doesn't blow the Christmas competition away? I mean, come on!

7. The Imitation Game $8.1M/$30.8

8. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1- $7.7M/$323.8M
Seven weeks later and Katniss Everdeen still holds a place in the top 10. I think it's safe to say that fandom for The Hunger Games isn't waning.

9. The Gambler- $6.3M/$27.5M
No records are being broken but Mark Whalbergs gamble on this oscar bait movie have paid off as it passes it's budget of $25 million this week. Whalburgers all around!

10. Big Hero 6- $4.8M/$211
Disney does it again as Baymax and company break back into the top ten showing the greatest staying power of the list with 9 total weeks in theaters, and a well deserved stay it is!

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Box Office: 'The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies' Rules with $212M Worldwide

1. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies- $56.2M/$90.6M
It may be #onelasttime in Middle Earth for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, but they are going out on top with a strong 5-day total of $90.6M after opening on Wednesday; $56M over the Friday weekend. Since Jackson likes to open these and his Lord of the Rings films on Wednesdays, this debut is pretty much in line with the other movies. Basically, if you saw the others you turned out for this one. And this isn't even factoring in the whopping $122M overseas haul, giving the film a total of $212M worldwide. Even Smaug would like a piece of treasure like that.
2. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb- $17.3M
It seemed the only people clamoring for a third Night at the Museum were Ben Stiller, Shawn Levy, and the bean counters over at 20th Century Fox. The first two films in the franchise grossed just under $1B combined, but this third and "final" (I smell a spinoff with Rebel Wilson coming) chapter is off to a bumpy start. 'Secret of the Tomb' opened with $17M, a step down from the $30M earned by the first movie in 2006, and the $54M by 'Battle of the Smithsonian'.  Five years is a long time to wait for what is generally considered a family-friendly comedy, and that may have had an impact on the low numbers. Rebel Wilson and Ben Kingsley were brought aboard to punch up the cast surrounding Stiller and Owen Wilson, but neither is exactly a box office draw. In Kingsley's case he's basically playing the polar opposite to his character in last week's Exodus: Gods and Kings. At $127M it's going to take a little bit of help from overseas numbers and the track record on that has been solid, so we'll see if these exhibits still have some life left.
3. Annie- $16.3M
While Sony continues to be humiliated, even shamed by the President, for their handling of The Interview, they had a pretty big movie opening this weekend. The much-hyped remake of Annie, the one boasting Jay-Z and Will Smith's hip-hop cred, opened to a solid $16M. That's not bad for a $65M feature version of a musical you can find just about anywhere. This one stars Quvenzhane Wallis, who we fell in love with in Beasts of the Southern Wild, alongside Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, and Rose Byrne. All big box office draws who could help carry the film far over the holidays, which is generally a strong time for musicals. We'll see if Into the Woods saps away any of its audience.
4. Exodus: Gods and Kings- $8M/$38.9M
Ridley Scott's critically-panned Exodus: Gods and Kings crashed like a tidal wave, falling 66% after a mediocre start last week. Domestically the film is a dud, but it could be saved on the foreign front where it has gained an additional $54.7M. 
5. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1- $7.7M/$289.2M
6. Wild- $4.1M/$7.2M
Expanding to over 1000 theaters and earning $4.1M was Wild, Reese Witherspoon's likely Oscar contender.
7. Top Five- $3.5M/$12.4M
A 300 theater expansion didn't do much for Top Five. The Chris Rock comedy only added another $3.5M at over 1300 sites.
8. Big Hero 6- $3.56M/$190.4M
9. Penguins of Madagascar- $3.52/$64.1M
10. PK- $3.5M
Sliding into the 10 spot is the Bollywood sci-fi comedy (how many of those you seen lately?), PK, starring Aamir Khan. You may recall Khan had another unexpected stateside hit last year with Dhoom 3, which made about $8M domestic ($88M worldwide) based solely on word of mouth. The same is happening now, and it goes a long way in showing why Hollywood has been expanding further into the Indian markets.

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Box Office: 'Exodus' Leads the Way with $24.5M; 'Top Five' Cracks the Top Five

1. Exodus: Gods and Kings- $24.5M
Ridley Scott's expensive Biblical epic, the one with all the Aussie and British actors, got off to a middling start with $24.5M, but it was enough to lead a weak box office. To put that into context, it's nearly $20M less than what Darren Aronofsky's Noah did at the early part of the year, and is just short of the small-budget Son of God's $25.6M. Scott was adamant that casting big names such as Christian Bale and Ben Kingsley were necessary to get the film made, and we're seeing that pay off in the international numbers. Add another $32M overseas and the $57M total doesn't seem so bad.
2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1- $13.2M/$277.3M
3. Penguins of Madagascar- $7.3M/$58.8M
4. Top Five- $7.2M
Notice how Chris Rock has been all over the news lately? How every word he says on race or politics is getting plastered everywhere? It's not random; he's got a movie to promote. That would be Top Five, which has been blanketed by amazing reviews (including mine) and some solid awards buzz, even if Paramount hasn't done much to hype the celebrity comedy. And all of Rock's self-promotion has worked because it debuted with $7.2M on only 979 screens, giving it the highest per site average in the top 10. Not too shabby, and being so high on the charts is its own promotion for a film titled Top Five, right?
5. Big Hero 6- $6.1M/$185.3M
6. Interstellar- $5.5M/$166.8M
7. Horrible Bosses 2- $4.6M/$43.6M
8. Dumb and Dumber To- $2.7M/$82.1M
9. The Theory of Everything- $2.5M/$17.1M
10. Wild- $1.5M/$2.4M
Fresh off a Golden Globes nominations for Reese Witherspoon, the hiking drama Wild expanded to 113 theaters in its second week and earned a respectable $1.5M. Expect this one to have pretty long legs (no pun intended) as we get closer to Oscars announcements.

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Box Office: 'Mockingjay' Holds Steady at #1 Over Slow Weekend

1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1- $21.6M/$257.7M
The post-Thanksgiving weekend is generally one of the slowest of the year and this was no different. Mockingjay held on to #1 for the third straight week in the face of absolutely zero competition. Soon it will move into the #2 highest-grossing domestic movies of 2014, surpassing both The Lego Movie and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but it has a long way to go to match Guardians of the Galaxy's $331M. Worldwide, the Jennifer Lawrence-led film has earned $560M.
2. Penguins of Madagascar- $11.1M/$49.5M
Dreamworks' animated spinoff Penguins of Madagascar tumbled 56% in its second weekend, well off the pace of the proper Madagascar movies. It may be feeling the effects of the continued strong showings of Disney's Big Hero 6, which was better reviewed and of course has that whole superhero thing going for it.
3. Horrible Bosses 2- $8.6M/$36M
Not even going to come close to matching its predecessor, Horrible Bosses 2 slid a respectable 44%, but still only has $36M domestic, $47M worldwide. By now the first film had earned $60M on its way to $209M. Maybe a spinoff of Jennifer Aniston's deliciously raunchy character is in order? I'd pay to see that, and I bet so would most people.
4. Big Hero 6- $8.1M/$177.5M
5. Interstellar- $8M/$158.6M
6. Dumb and Dumber To- $4.1M/$78M
7. The Theory of Everything- $2.6M/$13.6M
8. Gone Girl- $1.5M/$162.8M
9. The Pyramid- $1.3M
The only new semi-large release of the week is a film you probably never heard of and clearly didn't go see. The Pyramid is just another cheapie found footage horror flick with no marketable stars (although Ashley Hinshaw is pretty awesome), no press screenings, no buzz, and few positive reviews. Even by the meager standards set by the genre a $1.3M debut is pretty sad.
10. Birdman- $1.1M/$18.9M

Released on only 21 screens but nabbing an impressive $30K per site for a $630K total was the Reese Witherspoon walkabout drama, Wild. This one has plenty of awards buzz for her and director Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buyers Club), so that probably led to the high numbers and bodes well for a larger expansion.

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Box Office: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt.1 Continues to Dominate!

1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 1- $56.8M/$225.6M
Well, things aren't looking good for The Hunger Games being able to finish it's saga. I mean with pathetic box office returns like this it's unlikely they'll release part 2. For the sarcastically impaired among you I'll go ahead and point out that, obviously, I'm joking. Katniss Everdeen continues to obliterate the box office taking number 1 for the second week in a row bringing their total to an impressive $225 million!

2. Penguins of Madagascar- $25.8M
Coming in second is Penguins of Madagascar, the spin-off from the oddly popular Madagascar movies. I only say oddly because they always seemed second rate to me, yet kept putting out sequel after sequel. $25 million for the only new kids release over a holiday weekend isn't exactly stellar so it's possible that this where the story ends, though the staying power of Big Hero 6 could have cut into it's profits. Speaking of....

3. Big Hero 6- $18.7M/$167.2M
Staying in the top 3 on its fourth week of release, the Disney/Marvel animated adventure is a certified hit.

4. Interstellar- $15.8M/$147M
Staying just behind Big Hero 6 as it has done since release is Interstellar. One has to wonder if Chris Nolan's ego has taken a hit. Nah, who am I kidding.

5. Horrible Bosses 2- $15.7M/$23M
Negative reviews and a shared demographic audience with The Hunger Games no doubt hurt the follow-up to the surprise hit Horrible Bosses. With the crowded weeks leading up to Christmas and less money being spent at theaters it's unlikely that the numbers get any better for this one.

6. Dumb and Dumber To- $8.2M/$72.9M

7. The Theory of Everything- $5M/$9.6M
An almost 700 theater expansion helps knock the critically acclaimed story of Jane and Stephen Hawking into the top 10. It's $5 million dollar take is quite impressive considering that, even after the expansion, the film is still only showing in 802 theaters (average for a wide release is between 2,500 and 3,000)

8. Gone Girl- $2.4M/$160.7M

9. Birdman- $1.8/$17.2M
Word of mouth is apparently helping Michael Keaton's critically lauded Birdman as it enjoyed a 1.4% increase in ticket sales while showing in 142 less theaters.

10. St. Vincent- $1.7M/$39.3M

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Punch Drunk Podcast- 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1'

It's a one title weekend here on the Punch Drunk Podcast and what a title it is. This week we venture into the first part of what is sure to be the epic conclusion to the story of Katniss Everdeen with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. Join us to find out if this is the Thanksgiving movie you should see (if you haven't already seen it....judging by the box office numbers most of you already have!)

Check Out Film Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with The Punch Drunk Podcast on BlogTalkRadio

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Box Office: 'Mockingjay' Hits a Bullseye with $275M Worldwide Debut

1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1- $123M
It may have become a bit too easy to brush off The Hunger Games as just another YA franchise, but those who do are missing the historical significance of what it is accomplishing. The third film Mockingjay, the first of the two-part finale, opened this weekend with $123M. Now while that's lower than the $152M of The Hunger Games and the $158M of 'Catching Fire', the amazing thing is that we're talking about three $100M+ debuts in a row. No other franchise in history has accomplished that, which is pretty amazing. To show just how wide and deep the audience for these movies is, Mockingjay blew up overseas with an additional $152M giving it $275M globally. With a start like that we could be looking at the one film left on the calendar with a shot at surpassing Guardians of the Galaxy.
2. Big Hero 6- $20M/$135.7M
3. Interstellar- $15.1M/$120.6M
4. Dumb and Dumber To- $13.8M/$57.4M
Nostalgia can only stretch so far, and in the case of Dumb and Dumber To it couldn't go beyond the first weekend. The Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reunion slid 61% and out of first place with $13.8M.
5. Gone Girl- $2.8M/$156.8M
6. Beyond the Lights- $2.6M/$10.1M
7. St. Vincent- $2.3M/$36.6M
8. Fury- $1.9M/$79.1M
9. Birdman- $1.8M/$14.4M
10. Nightcrawler- $1.2M/$27.1M

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Cinema Royale #84- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay

After a week away Cinema Royale is back and so is Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay! The "Cinema Siren" +Leslie Combemale  dials in to review the anticipated first chapter of The Hunger Games finale! Plus, we'll take a look at Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo.

All this and news on Marvel's upcoming Netflix series, the Highlander reboot, and more! Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe for free, or find the show on ITunes, TuneIn, and the Cinema Royale app!

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Review: 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1' starring Jennifer Lawrence

Politics has always been at the heart of The Hunger Games, keyed to greater effect in Suzanne Collins' novels than in the pair of film adaptation we've seen up to this point. That's to be expected; the focus has largely been on the tournament of violence the volatile heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her maybe-love Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) find themselves thrust into by the despotic President Snow (Donald Sutherland).  But among all of the battles and love triangles, make no mistake that politics, specifically how governments collude with the media to keep the populace naive, was a big part of why this franchise resonates as much as it does. Have you watched the cable news lately? Don't bother.

That Mockingjay maintains such a high level while evolving from a futuristic war film into a straight-up political thriller is an incredible achievement, even if it comes at the expense of the action some have come to expect. The "games" are different this time for Katniss, who has just been rescued by the rebellion after she literally blew up the Quarter Quell. Now she must face a twisted game of cat and mouse with President Snow, one in which he is more than happy to use a sickly, brainwashed Peeta as propaganda against her. But the rebels holed up in District 13's underground bunker are just as savvy, and with the encouragement of President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) and Plutarch Heavensbee (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in his final role), Katniss reluctantly agrees to become the "mockingjay" and lead the people of Panem in a battle against the Capitol.

Ironically, this is a movie about the power of the visual image to influence great societal change. Katniss isn't the most natural leader, so the early attempts to mold her into one are dismal failures. It's her now-sober mentor Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) who suggests taking her out into the field where a film crew led by Cressida (Natalie Dormer) can document her every move, turning her escapades into political ads to rally the other Districts. Her return home to District 12, destroyed by a bombing raid that killed practically everyone, is especially gruesome and heart-wrenching, the crunch of broken bones beneath Katniss' feet with every step. The 'hunger games' themselves are terrible, but it's nothing compared to the true evil inflicted by Snow while he grins behind that white beard and curling sneer. There couldn't have been a more perfect choice than Lawrence to play the strong, defiant Katniss, but let's not overlook the amazing Donald Sutherland. He deserves to be mentioned right alongside Ralph Fiennes' Voldemort, Heath Ledger's Joker, and whoever that guy was who played Darth Vader.

With Peeta firmly in the Capitol's clutches, the love triangle takes a bit of a hiatus. It's still there when we see Katniss' lovelorn pal Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) comforting her as she pines for the deteriorating Peeta.  The lack of romantic sparks actually works to Gale's benefit as he finally starts to take shape as a real character, one with opinions that don't necessarily conform to what Katniss expects. Others get their moments to shine, including Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin) who is also anguishing over a lost lover; the eccentric inventor BeeTee (Jeffrey Wright) who has settled into his role as the rebels' tech guy; and Effie Trinkett (Elizabeth Banks) who has found a way to turn the ugly rebel grey/black uniforms into something close to chic. Incoming screenwriter Danny Strong, who knows a thing or two about political movies having penned Recount and Game Change for HBO, subtly tweaks each character to reflect the war-torn world they find themselves in now.

Those expecting Mockingjay part 1 to be just like Catching Fire may be disappointed, though. The thrills are of a different sort, and there isn't the "who's going to die next?" mystery hanging over every scene. Katniss remains at the center but this is about how she copes with having leadership thrust upon her, not how many Tributes she can fire an arrow into. It's another outstanding, complex performance by Lawrence who shows Katniss' vulnerability early on before igniting the rebel cause as the "girl on fire" later on. It doesn't seem to matter what role she's in, we can't help but feel a connection to her.

Francis Lawrence returns as director after helming 'Catching Fire', and it can't be overstated how the franchise has improved since the departure of Gary Ross. Not that Ross was terrible; he set the groundwork and Lawrence has taken it to a whole new level. By necessity there is less visual dazzle than before, but he still manages to flesh out the technologically advanced world of Panem in a way that is relatable.

There's more Mockingjay to come, of course, and the sequel promises to be all-out war. The first chapter ends on one heck of a nasty cliffhanger that does exactly what it's supposed to which is leave us anxious to see what's next.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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New Clip from 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay' featuring CGI-Less Philip Seymour Hoffman

After the sudden, tragic passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman earlier this year there was some question surrounding his last major role, which was in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay two-part finale. We knew he hadn't quite wrapped up his part as Plutarch Heavensbee, and there had been some inklings that CGI could be used to fill in the gaps, a process which has a sketchy track record. Well, Francis Lawrence has now come out and said he decided that wasn't such a good idea. He tells HuffPo...

"He had two scenes with dialogue that were left and we decided we didn't want to try any digital trickery with him, so we rewrote his scenes and gave the dialogue to other actors. So there was one scene from Part 1 and one scene from Part 2."

Probably the wisest course of action. Meanwhile, a new clip has emerged that just happens to include Hoffman along with co-stars Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Jennifer Lawrence. In this scene, we see Haymitch and the rebel brain trust discussing how to make Katniss more likeable to the public. Surprisingly, the strongest voice in her defense is Effie Trinkett, who has been genuinely moved by Katniss' self-sacrificing ways.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 opens Nov. 21st. 

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Katniss meets Cressida in New 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay' Clip

One of the many reasons The Hunger Games has stayed ahead of the game the last couple of years is the amount of talent that keeps signing on to the franchise. While the cast was top notch right from the beginning, adding names like Jeffrey Wright, Julianne Moore, and Philip Seymour Hoffman were a major coup, and one of the most exciting new additions for the two-part Mockingjay finale is Game of Thrones star, Natalie Dormer.

Dormer plays Cressida, who plays her part in the rebellion by documenting every move Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) makes so the footage can be used to inspire others. In this clip we see Katniss' first meeting with Cressida, along with her video crew, including one who had his tongue cut out by the Capitol.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 is right around the corner, opening November 21st.


The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 - Meeting the Crew by Teaser-Trailer.com

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New 'Mockingjay' Clip Reveals a Familiar Face

Just a few short weeks until we launch into part 1 of the 2 part finale for the epic Hunger Games series, expect the media onslaught to begin NOW. Today's clip reveals to us, and Katniss, a friend we feared dead *SPOILER ALERT* At the end of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Peta Malark, it seemed, was dead. His not-deadness is revealed in full form to Katniss via a sit down interview with MC extraordinaire, Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), which brings up a number of questions, the answers to which are likely  to greatly impact the events of Mockinjay. As a non-book reader this is all news to me and leaves me with only one REAL question, has Peta turned to the darkside? Is it a ruse? Is he under mind-control? Obviously Katniss is just as shocked as we are, the good news is we can find out the answer on November 21st, 2014 when The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt.1 hits theaters! Oh the intrigue, oh the drama!

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Katniss Prepares for War in Final Trailer for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1'

"If we burn, you burn with us", Katniss roars at President Snow in the new, jam-packed 60 second trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. Following on the events of Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen is now the face of a revolution, leading the people of District 13 against the Capitol. Meanwhile she must also rescue Peeta, who has been captured and brainwashed, while also protecting her family from Snow's inevitable retaliation.

Supposedly the "final" trailer before the film's arrival on November 21st, it promises massive scope and a ton of action, with Jennifer Lawrence looking as strong as ever as Katniss. With a cast that includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright and more, let's hope they remember to keep a focus on the characters and not just on big special effects. They've done a pretty good job of it so far, and with the finale split into two chapters there should be even more time to get it right.

Mockingjay Part 1 will be followed by Part 2 on November 20th 2015.


The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Final Trailer – “Burn” by Trailersstv

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Katniss Makes a Hard Choice in New 'Mockingjay' TV Spot

In exactly one month The Hunger Games begins the march to finality with Mockingjay, and it's a story so big Lionsgate had to split it in two. Actually, it's not that big but the money these movies make is huge so they had to find any way to extend the blockbuster franchise's lifespan. And part of that is an extensive, multi-faceted marketing campaign, which includes revealing brand new footage in the latest TV spot. Here's the official synopsis:

The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Danny Strong and Peter Craig and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the third in a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins that has over 65 million copies in print in the U.S. alone. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 opens November 21st. 

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Return to District 12 in the New 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' Teaser

By all accounts this has been a bounce back year for the YA genre after a disappointing 2013. Divergent and The Maze Runner got new franchises off on the right footing, and next month brings the first chapter in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, which has just revealed a new teaser.

Titled "Return to District 12", the footage shows Katniss...well, returning to her home in District 12 which is now smoking rubble due to the Capitol's attack. But Katniss is the "girl on fire", the face of the rebel army and she'll go back in to battle to defeat President Snow, rescue her brainwashed lover Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), and save Panem once and for all. She just won't do it in the first film, which is why the series' finale has been split into two parts.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 opens November 21st.


The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 - Teaser Trailer #4 [FULL HD] - Subtitulado por Cinescondite by cinesconditeoficial

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New Character Photos from 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay' Part 1

Through two films we've seen Lionsgate expertly utilize viral marketing and other online strategies in promoting The Hunger Games franchise, and obviously it has worked. That trend continues with Mockingjay part 1, and after releasing an excellent trailer not too long ago, the film's Instagram account has debuted eight new images of the supporting cast.  The photos give us a look at Jeffrey Wright as Beetee, Stanley Tucci as the toothy-grinned Caesar Flickerman, Sam Claflin as Finnick, Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, Natalie Dormer as Cressida, Elden Henson as Pollux, Wes Chatham's Castor, and Mahershala Ali as Boggs.

Here's the synopsis: The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 opens November 21st. 

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The Mockingjay Lives in New Trailer for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1'

"It's the things we love most that destroy us." Those ominous, prophetic words by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) couldn't apply more to Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), the stalwart heroine of The Hunger Games franchise. She entered the brutal games in an effort to save her beloved sister, and was forced to enter them a second time to save her entire family and those of her friends. Now in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1, Katniss will risk everything to save her homeland of Panem from the Capitol's oppressive rule.

The new trailer for first chapter in the two-part Mockingjay finale has been released and it shows what a vastly different movie this is compared to the others. For one, Katniss is no longer just a competitor in the Games; she is now the Mockingjay, leader of a rebellion whether she wants to be or not. But like any war, it can't be won merely with firepower, and we see President Snow using the brainwashed Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) as his main propaganda weapon against the rebels.

Julianne Moore joins the cast as President Alma Coin, and according to EW her role has been beefed up compared to the Suzanne Collins novels. Philip Seymour Hoffman returns for what is the late actor's final performance, along with the original cast of Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, and Stanley Tucci.  Directed by Francis Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 opens November 21st.


Jogos Vorazes: A Esperança - Parte 1 - Trailer by Filmow

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Jennifer Lawrence is the Girl on Fire in New 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay' Poster

What's the difference between a teaser poster and a full one? No idea, especially when it comes to the latest (and apparently final) poster for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1. Perhaps it all depends on perspective? Literally, last week's teaser showed the back of Jennifer Lawrence, all suited up and ready for action as Katniss Everdeen. And now today comes the "full" poster in which she's staring straight through us, all lit up as the symbolic "Girl on Fire", the face of a rebellion.

It's an impressive image, perfect for the highest-grossing female action star ever. Yep, that's official. The Guinness Book of World Records says so.

Directed by Francis Lawrence and opening November 21st, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 stars Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Clafin, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland. Look out for the next trailer which arrives on Monday.

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New Posters for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay', 'Camp X-Ray', and 'The Maze Runner'

We got a look at the rebellion Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) would be leading in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1 in a series of character posters, and now she finally gets one of her own. Lionsgate has released this new one-sheet showing the battle hardened Katniss, all suited up in black and ready to take the fight to the President Snow.  Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Natalie Dormer, Julianne Moore, Stanley Stucci and Donald Sutherland also star in the adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel, directed by Francis Lawrence and opening November 21st.

While many reviewers took issue with the military drama Camp X-Ray, the solid buzz surrounding Kristen Stewart's performance is a very real thing. Is it enough to gain the ex-Twilight thesp some Oscar buzz? I certainly think it's a possibility, but we'll find out when the film opens on October 28th. She plays a Guantanamo Bay prison guard who forges an unlikely friendship with an inmate, and it's a bond that makes her rethink everything she's been taught.

Is it crazy that The Maze Runner is the YA film I'm most looking forward to and not Mockingjay? The trailers and clips we've seen from the film, set in a massive maze populated by kidnapped boys with no recollection of their pasts, have been extremely intense and could make a superstar out of Teen Wolf's Dylan O'Brien. He stars alongside Kaya Scodelario (Wuthering Heights), Will Poulter (We're the Millers), and Thomas Brodie Sangster (Game of Thrones) with Wes Ball directing. Here's the synopsis to go along with the gritty new character posters: Based on the young-adult novel by James Dashner, “The Maze Runner” centers around teen Thomas (O’Brien), who awakens in a rusty elevator with no memory of who he is. What he does come to find out is that he’s been delivered to the middle of an intricate maze, along with a slew of other boys, who have been trying to find their way out of the ever-changing labyrinth — all the while establishing a functioning society within the enclosure they’ve come to call “The Glade.”

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