Lionsgate 'Blows Up' the Competition as the Action-Thriller The Expendables Debuts on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download with 3 Million Units Sold in North America During its First Week

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Expendables , a star-studded action-thriller with a once-in-a-lifetime powerhouse cast of characters blew up the competition as the number one new release on the DVD, Blu-ray and Digital charts this past week. Released by Lionsgate® (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation studio, The Expendables debuted at number one on the DVD rental chart as well as the Blu-ray sell through chart with the combo pack of the film (three discs- including Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy). In addition, the release came out of its first weekend as the top movie download on iTunes, Xbox, Amazon and Sony/PlayStation.

Co-written and directed by Sylvester Stallone and featuring an unmatched ensemble cast of action stars – including Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke along with cameos by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis – The Expendables was the number one movie in America two weeks in a row and grossed more than $100 million during its theatrical release this summer. The Expendables also achieved the highest box office-to-DVD conversion rate for all major DVD releases this quarter, helping Lionsgate to maintain their industry leadership in box office to DVD conversion. Lionsgate also had the top converting title last quarter for films over $10 million box office with Kick Ass as well as the top converting title for Q2 with From Paris With Love. The Expendables is a Nu Image Production presented by Lionsgate and Millennium Films.

This movie has brought together a collection of superstars that is unmatched in action movie history and, combined with the exciting story and direction from Stallone, delivers one hell of a show," said Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate General Manager and Executive Vice President. "We fully expect this movie to have long legs after its powerful home entertainment debut and be a top-seller through the holidays and beyond."

SYNOPSIS

A team of hardened mercenaries are sent on what becomes a suicide mission to overthrow a ruthless dictator. They are the Expendables: leader and mastermind Barney Ross (Stallone), former SAS blade expert Lee Christmas (Statham), hand-to-hand combat specialist Yin Yang (Li), long barrel weapons specialist Hale Caesar (Crews), demolitions expert Toll Road (Couture) and precision sniper Gunner Jensen (Lundgren). Living life in the fringes of the law, these hardened mercenaries take on what appears to be a routine assignment: a covert, CIA-funded operation to infiltrate the South American country of Vilena and overthrow its ruthless dictator General Garza (David Zayas). But when their job is revealed to be a suicide mission, the men are faced with a deadly choice, one that might redeem their souls…or destroy their brotherhood forever.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, channels, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as "Mad Men", "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie" along with new series such as "Blue Mountain State" and "Running Wilde" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House Of Payne", its spinoff "Meet The Browns", "The Wendy Williams Show" and the recently announced "Are We There Yet?".

Its feature film business has generated such recent hits as THE EXPENDABLES, which was #1 at the North American box office for two weeks this past summer, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards(R). The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

SOURCE Lionsgate