Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a good thing to be in the business of movies, because the movie business is a’boomin. Heavy-hitting studio Lionsgate has just released its fourth quarter earnings report and it’s more money than should be humanly possible, but thanks to avid moviegoers like us, every cent of it is true. For the second year in a row, Lionsgate has surpassed the billion dollar mark, raking in $2.252 billion total – a figure that will only increase as cash cow The Hunger Games: Catching Fire continues to perform abroad.
According to Cinemablend, Lionsgate films accounted for 10 percent of the annual industry gross domestically. Catching Fire, the second largest movie of the year, has grossed $691 million worldwide and is expected to pass $800 million when its run is through. The studio found surprise hit with Instructions Not Included, which has become the highest-grossing Spanish language film of all time with $85 million. Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, the concert film for the favored comedian, became another surprise success after a mild ad campaign and a decent opening, bringing in $32 million.
Now You See Me, the bank heist/magician flick starring Isla Fischer and Jesse Eisenberg, brought in a hefty $354 million globally; a sequel is already in the works in the hope that the same spark will be ignited with audiences a second time. Then of course, Lionsgate has their role in the Tyler Perry game. Whatever your feelings may be about Madea, Perry’s films are massively successful. Perry’s Confessions of a Marriage Counselor became his highest-grossing film not featuring Madea; however, she was back later in the year with the less-profitable A Madea Christmas.
Not everything the studio touches can be gold, though. Lionsgate saw a bonafide flop with The Big Wedding. Do you think anyone cares, though? They’re probably swimming in the cash right now, Scrooge McDuck-style.
