Hollywood
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire collects $307.7 million in the opening weekend
MUMBAI: The Jennifer Lawrence starrer The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has set a new record after topping the weekend movie charts, setting the US and Canadian record for November ticket sales and hauling in a huge $ 307.7 million around the world. Catching Fire collected an estimated $ 161.1 million from Thursday night through Sunday in the United States and Canada, a first for the month of November.
Playing in 65 markets around the world, the sequel to the hit The Hunger Games also grabbed $ 146.6 million in foreign sales through Sunday, reports distributor Lions Gate Entertainment.
Fans of the franchise poured in large numbers to watch Jennifer Lawrence portray the heroine Katniss Everdeen, of Suzanne Collins’ young adult series, the skilled archer who becomes a symbol of hope for the oppressed citizen of the fictional country of Panem.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins with Katniss returning home after winning the 74th Hunger Games along with Peeta. However, it’s not over for them as the devious Capitol prepares for the 75th Annual Hunger Games – The Quarter Quell. As the victors get ready to participate in the Capitol’s latest shenanigans, elsewhere in the districts a rebellion is brewing – the inhabitants are growing more agitated everyday with the absolute tyranny of the Capitol.
The first film of the series The Hunger Games earned $ 691.2 million worldwide in 2012.
After the critical success worldwide, the movie is all set to release in India on 6 December, 2013 in more than 600 screens nationwide in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
