Media Case Studies: Distribution

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 was Distributed by Lionsgate Films, which was involved in the co-production of all the Hunger Games films with Production house Color Force. Nina Jacobson sold the movie rights to Lions Gate and that is also a way the distributor is involved in the film.

Positioning and Release:
The movie premiered in Los Angeles, at the L.A. Live, complex on November 16, and in New York on November 18.
It premiered internationally in Berlin on November 4, in London November 5, in Paris November 9, in Madrid November 10, and in Beijing November 12.
But due to the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, Lionsgate scaled down its L.A. premiere, cancelling press interviews on the red carpet (which was scheduled to last two hours).
Mockingjay – Part 2 was released on November 20, 2015 in the United States and Canada. The film was originally scheduled to be released in 2D, Digital 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D, which would have made it the only film of the series to be globally released in 3D formats; the previous film was released in 3D in China.
However, the decision to release the film in 3D and IMAX 3D in North America was revoked.
Director Francis Lawrence discussed the decision, stating, "I love the 3D format and I know that Mockingjay Part 2 will play perfectly in 3D and 2D internationally – but I'm pleased that we're maintaining the 2D only (and IMAX) formats domestically. It is the best of all worlds!".
It was nevertheless released in 3D formats in overseas markets, including China.

The film was also released in the Dolby Vision format in Dolby Cinemas, which is the first ever for Lionsgate.

International Distribution

Internationally, it was released day-and-date across 87 countries, starting from November 18, in certain markets like Belgium, Brazil, France and the Netherlands and on November 19 in Australia, Germany, Russia, Italy, and the United Kingdom, followed by China, Mexico, Japan, the United States, Canada, and 19 other markets, on November 20, as part of the biggest movie roll out ever by Lionsgate. The only big territories where the film did not open on the same weekend are Spain, Greece and India, which released the movie on November 27.

Merchandising

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 was released on Digital HD on March 8, 2016, and will be followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on March 22, 2016.