Lionsgate Kills the Competition as the Romantic Comedy Killers Debuts at Number One Across Multiple Home Entertainment Platforms

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third time in the last seven weeks and the second consecutive week, Lionsgate® (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation studio, reigns supreme on the home entertainment charts. Following on the heels of Kick-Ass and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?, the unpredictable romantic comedy Killers murdered the competition on the weekly charts as it proved dominant across all revenue channels this past week. Starring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, the movie shot its way to the top spot on the DVD and Blu-ray sell through and rental charts with 1.2 million units sold. In addition, the release came out of its first weekend as the top movie download on the iTunes store, Amazon, Playstation and Xbox rental charts.

With this latest number one debut, Lionsgate is in the midst of a "killer" run on both the home entertainment and theatrical charts. Kick-Ass ranked first on the DVD, Blu-ray and digital charts when it debuted in August and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? became the latest release from the top-selling writer, director and actor to debut on top of the DVD and Blu-ray charts when it was released two weeks ago. On the theatrical front, The Expendables and The Last Exorcism have been among the leaders at the box office. The Expendables held the number one spot at the North American box office for two straight weeks and has now grossed more than $99 million domestically.  The Last Exorcism has grossed nearly $40 million dollars since its release and both films are still in the top 10 as of the latest weekend box office chart.

"We have had quite a run with both our theatrical and home entertainment releases," said Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate General Manager and Executive Vice President. "Releasing both a known entity like Tyler Perry along with genre-oriented fare that has proven itself time and again to be successful in all forms of home entertainment has been the key to our success. Based upon its content and the appeal of stars like Ashton and Katherine, we knew that Killers would attract the imagination of the home viewing audience the same way that Kick-Ass did."  

Killers, which grossed nearly $50 million domestically and $100 million worldwide during its theatrical run, is the latest home entertainment release to solidify Lionsgate's industry leadership in box office to DVD conversion. Lionsgate has boasted most of the top converting titles of 2010 for films over $10 million box office with Killers, Kick-Ass, From Paris With Love and Daybreakers. Killers also stars Tom Selleck (TV's Jesse Stone: Thin Ice), Catherine O'Hara (For Your Consideration) and Rob Riggle (The Other Guys) and was directed by Robert Luketic (The Ugly Truth) from a story by Bob DeRosa and a screenplay by Bob DeRosa and T.M. Griffin.

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, 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  the Emmy Award-winning "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, 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.

www.lionsgate.com

SOURCE Lionsgate