hunger games drops the day after gta 6 and the director is just hoping you do both
So the new Hunger Games movie, Sunrise on the Reaping, hits theaters November 20. One day after GTA 6. Francis Lawrence, the director, knows that's a rough slot. He told IGN he hopes people can squeeze in both, and joked about playing GTA, catching his movie, then going right back to GTA.
Can't blame him for trying. GTA 6 is the only mainstream game releasing November 19, and no other big game is coming within five days on either side. Publishers have been running from that window for months. Lawrence isn't the only one looking at the calendar and sweating.
Circana's Mat Piscatella basically said all the release date shuffling is overblown. He told GamesBeat that everyone's just scared of GTA 6, but the data doesn't really support it. His take is that a lot of the moves feel more irrational than rational. I don't know if that helps the Hunger Games team or not.
The purchase intent numbers are wild though. Circana says almost 1 in 3 US console and PC gamers plan to buy GTA 6. That's the highest they've ever recorded for any game. So yeah, November 20 theater seats might be a little emptier than usual.
Other movies that weekend include Paper Tiger and I Play Rocky, both wide releases. Nobody's really talking about those. The Hunger Games prequel at least has a built in fanbase, but it's still going up against the biggest entertainment launch in years.
Lawrence also listed his favorite games in that interview. Metal Gear Solid, BioShock, Call of Duty, and the original GTA. He's directing the BioShock movie for Netflix, so the guy clearly knows his stuff. Not some out of touch Hollywood type pretending to like games.
Still, asking people to leave Leonida on day two is a big ask. I'll probably still be messing with the wanted system or driving from Vice City to Port Gellhorn. The movie will be there later.
Would you actually go see a movie on November 20, or is that first weekend locked in for GTA 6?
Source: GameSpot · Curated content.
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