Lionsgate said today that it has passed the $1 billion mark both domestically and overseas for the second year in a row at the box office. The mini-major studio was bolstered by The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and the surprise hit Now You See Me.
On Sunday, the studio reached $1.025 billion domestically after Catching Fire’s latest weekend, notes TheWrap. Overseas, the studio has reached $1.227 billion and its combined international total is at $2.225 billion.
Catching Fire was the big hit that Lionsgate expected. Since its Nov. 22 release, the Jennifer Lawrence-starring film has made $371.7 million, notes Box Office Mojo. Overseas, the film has been an even bigger hit than the original Hunger Games, grossing $393.6 million.
As for Now You See Me, the Summit release caught Hollywood by surprise, making $117.7 million on a $75 million budget. Even better, the movie about magicians pulling off a heist made $234 million overseas. It starred Woody HArrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher and Morgan Freeman. Yes, there is a sequel in the works.
According to Deadline, Lionsgate managed to get six of its films released in China, grossing a total of $116.3 million combined. Overall, its films made up 8 percent of the international market.
Lionsgate also capitalized on cheaper films, including Kevin Hart’s Let Me Explain. The film was made for just $3 million and grossed $32.2 million.
“We’re especially pleased to achieve contributions from our entire portfolio of films this year, from Lionsgate’s Catching Fire and Summit’s Now You See Me to Pantelion’s Instructions Not Included and Codeblack’s Kevin Hart Let Me Explain,” Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer and Vice Chairman Michael Burns said in a statement.
image: Lionsgate