VOA慢速英语2014 'Hunger Games' Expected to Top Holiday Ticket Sales

 

'Hunger Games' Expected to Top Holiday Ticket Sales

The latest movie in “The Hunger Games” series¹ was number one in ticket sales for its opening last weekend. However, it did not make as much as the openings of the other two movies in the series.

The third and latest is called “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1.” It brought in about $123 million in U.S. ticket sales. But the first Hunger Games movie sold $151 million worth of tickets in its 2012 release² weekend. And in 2013, the sequel “Catching Fire,” made six million above that.

The producers for the Hunger Games series should still be happy. “Mockingjay, Part 1” is actually the third installment³ in the planned four-part movie series. It has outsold every opening weekend so far this year. And worldwide the movie sold another $275 million of tickets.

Gary Susman of Moviefone.com wrote about the smaller audiences for “Mockingjay – Part 1.” He suggested that there is often less interest in the second to last film in any series. He wrote that people know the second to last movie will serve as a bridge between the one before it and the last. They do not expect as much action. He thinks some people plan to watch “Mockingjay – Part 1” on video much closer to the release of the final “Hunger Games” next year.

In this installment, lead character Katniss Everdeen becomes involved in the revolution⁴ started in District 13. She is torn between her desire to save her nation and her concern for her friend Peeta who is being held by the government. Both characters become involved in opposite propaganda⁵ campaigns⁶.

Gary Susman of Moviefone.com also writes that he suspects some people may skip Mockingjay-Part 1 because they know there is no Hunger Games competition in the movie. And he notes that the film had strong competition with “Interstellar” and “Big Hero 6” still popular among U.S. theater goers.

Just like “Catching Fire,” “Mockingjay – Part 1” is in its second weekend during the Thanksgiving holiday. Experts predict⁷ the movie will top box office sales this weekend also.

Words in This Story

sequel – n.  a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book, movie, etc.

audience – n. a group of people who gather together to listen to something (such as a concert) or watch something (such as a movie or play) : the people who attend a performance

installment – n. any one of several parts of a long book, television program, movie, etc., that are published or shown over a period of time

skip – n. to not do (something that is usual or expected)

1 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

2 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

3 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。

4 revolution   

n.革命，大变革；旋转；周期，循环

参考例句：

• The earth makes a yearly revolution around the sun.地球每年绕太阳一周。
• This volume records the history of the country's revolution.这卷书记载了这个国家的革命历史。

5 propaganda   

n.宣传，宣传机构

参考例句：

• A lot of propaganda has painted him as bad.大量宣传把他说得很坏。
• Art may be used as a vehicle for propaganda.艺术可以用作为宣传的媒介。

6 campaigns   

n.运动( campaign的名词复数 )；竞选运动；战役；季节性竞赛

参考例句：

• Extraneous factors can intervene and cause the shelving of advertising campaigns. 广告活动会因外部因素影响而推迟进行。 来自辞典例句
• The rebels defiantly welcomed new allies and laid plans for unionization campaigns. 造反派热烈欢迎新盟友，并制订组织工会的计划。 来自辞典例句

7 predict   

v.预知，预言，预报

参考例句：

• It's hard to predict how things will turn out.很难预测事情会变成怎么样。
• I cannot predict when to meet her again.我无法预测什么时候会再见到她。