Or Lionsgate could follow the Warner Bros. template and license its characters and stories to theme park operators. For example, Motiongate, a park in the Middle East featuring a “Hunger Games” style roller coaster, is scheduled to open next year. The venue, built by Dubai Parks and Resorts, will also include license rides/location-place attractions from DreamWorks Animation and Sony Pictures.
One might think the payout for theme park rides would be small change next to the bigger movie box office receipts -- especially for Lionsgate. For all the “Hunger Games” films so far, total worldwide movie revenue comes to $2.3 billion. By way of comparison, Lionsgate is targeting some $100 million over the next few years from “location-based entertainment.”
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Still, this kind of entertainment leverages up-close and personal attractions that consumers may desire in comparison to a world of digital consumption and media fractionalization.
Disney has worked on this business formula for decades, cross-promoting all its movie, TV and other platform franchise properties. Associated consumer products are, of course, another marketing tool.
At the same time, media/entertainment providers are also looking at “virtual reality” efforts that connect to movies and TV -- which could also be a new piece of the theme park puzzle.
We can only hope a Lionsgate “Mad Men” adult exhibit is on the way, with an attraction/ride offering up a drunken martini-laced environment.