Celebrity Circuit
By

Jessica Derschowitz /

CBS News/ March 21, 2012, 10:09 AM

"The Hunger Games" breaks pre-sale records

Stanley Tucci and Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games."

/ Lionsgate

(CBS News) "The Hunger Games" is already breaking records, and it hasn't even opened in theaters yet.

Fandango announced Tuesday that the film, based on Suzanne Collins' wildly popular novel, has sold more advance tickets than any other non-sequel ever.

Pictures: "The Hunger Games" premiere
Pictures: "The Hunger Games" character posters

The movie tickets website said more than 2,000 showtimes for "The Hunger Games" have already sold out, according to Entertainment Weekly. The film also accounts for more than 92 percent of Fandango's daily sales.

"The Hunger Games," directed by Gary Ross and starring Jennifer Lawrence as heroine Katniss Everdeen, will be released on Friday.

The film is expected to open big at the box office. The Hollywood Reporter notes that tracking services are forecasting an $82-$115 million debut, but box office observers and rival studios believe the film will bring in $130-$140 million during its opening weekend.

That could give "The Hunger Games" an even bigger opening than the most recent "Twilight" film, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which brought in $138.1 million during its first weekend back in November.

Tell us: Are you planning to see "The Hunger Games"?

37 Photos

"The Hunger Games" premiere

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Aceduece says:
Going to see it for sure.....but not opening night. Will be too many flakey teenage girls screaming. Best to go to an afternoon matinee when they're in school.
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