Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the Second Most Anticipated Movie of Fall 2015

 

The Force Awakens Hunger Games

No, this title is not a typo. A new survey out yesterday has revealed that movie going audiences rate Star Wars: The Force Awakens as their second most anticipated film of the fall behind the fourth and final Hunger Games film.

 

 

Variety has the results of a Piedmont Media Research survey that asked movie goers what film they were most excited for this upcoming fall season.

 

The consumer tracking company polled 3,000 people about upcoming fall movies and found that “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” were the most hotly anticipated upcoming releases. In fact, both films scored some of the highest ratings Piedmont has recorded since it began polling audiences five years ago. The company rates consumer engagement on a scale of zero to 1,000, and the fourth and final “Hunger Games” had a 514 rating, beating last summer’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and its score of 509, as the best overall number it has ever recorded.

 

The “Star Wars” sequel posted a 495 rating, the third best figure since Piedmont began its surveys. It also had the best score among males that Piedmont has seen with 553. Females also are looking forward to the film, with their interest level hitting 383.

 

Clearly, both films are highly anticipated with each scoring a rating in the top 3 in the history of the survey. Additionally, it is a very small sample size measuring two very different movies. But it is somewhat telling as to the type of marketing push that will be necessary as we approach the stretch run before the release of the new film.

 

While Hunger Games is already in its final marketing push and has the benefit of being the finale to a successful series, it is also significantly closer to release than The Force Awakens, giving it more presence in the eye of the casual film fan.

 

On the flip side, you can make an argument that Star Wars may be lagging behind Hunger Games at this point based purely on the lack of marketing thus far. We still have yet to enter the season of theatrical trailers, TV commercials, and fast food tie-ins that will significantly increase awareness amongst casual movie goers.  At the same time, you can also take the approach that Star Wars is in the stronger position of the two films having reached #3 all time in anticipation on name alone, before the marketing has even begun in earnest. If this is where Star Wars sits now on an anticipation scale, where will it be in 2 months when the marketing machine becomes inescapable?

 

Han Solo

 

It is interesting to note that the survey also introduced variables to see if there would be any impact to anticipation for a specific movie.  Whereas on some other films the star power of the cast or director might increase anticipation, the needle on Star Wars did not move when mentioning returning or new cast members.  This would indicate that the existing level of excitement is based on the Star Wars brand alone and not on any particular cast member.

 

Still, even given the survey’s results favoring Mockingjay, it seems highly unlikely that a new Star Wars film will not get the crown for biggest film of the fall when all is said and done.  Most early attempts at an early read on the Star Wars box office have projected something significantly higher than the finale of the Hunger Games franchise, but only time will tell.  Is Disney’s cautious marketing plan going to turn out to be a genius move or will this game of marketing chicken with their own release date backfire*?  We will find out in December.

 

*in this case backfire would refer to slightly smaller but still gigantic mounds of cash for Disney executives to swim in Scrooge McDuck style.

+ posts

170 thoughts on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the Second Most Anticipated Movie of Fall 2015

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:21 pm
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    Yes the 20 high school aged girls that were surveyed are more looking towards the hunger games than Star Wars.

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:38 pm
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    Yeah right….

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:38 pm
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    No way either of those beat out the final Twilight movie…

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:44 pm
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    They didn’t ask us…..Prolly just a bunch of middle school girls

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:45 pm
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    How was the sample weighted? In terms of box office receipts, TFA will be in a different league than The Hunger Games.

    • September 24, 2015 at 11:51 pm
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      From Variety:The people surveyed were selected to be demographically representative
      of the movie-going public in terms of age, gender, ticket-buying
      behavior and ethnicity.

      That’s all the detail that was given.

      • September 25, 2015 at 12:20 am
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        Wish The Hunger Games well, but Star Wars will appeal to Generation X, Y, and Z. The Hunger Games will mainly appeal to Generation Y, and being a PG-13 will limit access to those from Generation Z.

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:45 pm
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    December’s in the fall, Really?

    • September 24, 2015 at 11:49 pm
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      Winter begins Dec 21st.

      • September 25, 2015 at 6:06 am
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        Stupid. I don’t know anyone who would think December when they mentioned a film was out in the fall. Three days or so in it does not make it a fall film. I know Titantic came out in December and it was always a winter one.

        • September 25, 2015 at 1:59 pm
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          Your opinions on the solstice are irrelevant. It is scientific fact that the movie comes out in fall so it was included in the survey.

          Its not like people saw Star Wars there and said, “you know…I’m excited for Star Wars, but I know it comes out Dec 18th….which is fall….but it doesn’t really FEEL like fall…so I’ll pick Hunger Games instead even though I’m REALLY more excited for Star Wars”

          There are plenty of reasons to argue this survey doesn’t reflect true anticipation, but this isn’t one of them.

          • September 26, 2015 at 12:29 pm
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            Yet Abrams said that the next trailer is in the fall and one would have to be delusional to think that anyone thinks that means December.

          • September 26, 2015 at 2:29 pm
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            You can think it feels like a winter movie all you want. I really don’t care what season you think it comes out in. More power to you. But the survey counted it as fall because it comes out in fall. Put it as an option there with Hunger Games, Spectre and the rest. So for the purposes of this survey (and science) it is a fall movie whether it feels like fall or not.

            People’s feelings on what season it feels like are irrelevant in relation to the results of the survey.

          • September 27, 2015 at 5:15 pm
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            Except Avatar came out on the same day in 2009 yet was considered both a winter and 2010 hit. Same with Titanic. As well as numerous Bond films.

            Unless you have a new definition of what science is then the word survey is not synomous with that word, Unless you are one of those voters that believes everything that the Government uses the media to put out.

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:48 pm
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    Well… that’s sobering… and disappointing. Especially after the last movie being so mediocre. That said the books themselves kind of dried up in the third book so not really the movie’s fault.

    • September 24, 2015 at 11:50 pm
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      Yeah. Mockingjay Part 1 was mediocre because it was half a movie. The best parts of that book take place in the latter half so Part 1 was inevitably a lackluster film. But they will end up making double the money for choosing to split it into two films, so I get it from a marketing standpoint, but it did affect the quality of the franchise imo.

      • September 24, 2015 at 11:52 pm
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        Which was a shame because 2 was ridiculously well done. I really loved the 2nd movie.

        • September 25, 2015 at 3:55 am
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          Except for those apes! The whole scene with the apes was underwhelming. It just looked really fake to me, the rest of the movie was great though and Jena Malone really stole the show whenever she was on screen.

          • October 1, 2015 at 8:14 pm
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            And that part when the rabbits tried to cross the busy motorway and one of them got run over…..

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:48 pm
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    I enjoyed the first two Hunger Games films and look forward to seeing them wrap up…but…c’mon. We’re talking about two different leagues here. I think it’s do to HG being established already with the younger audience. This will change by the time VIII comes out.

    • September 24, 2015 at 11:50 pm
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      Exactly. This is a snap shot of anticipation right now. Not necessarily indicative of what it will be at release.

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:48 pm
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    Number wise, Hunger games may win. But I think that the Star Wars fans out there may buy more than 1 ticket to see the movie. I may watch it multiple times myself.

    • September 25, 2015 at 8:05 am
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      It’s also worth remembering that even if Hunger Games sells more tickets, the merchandising revenue from SW will be far greater, not least because of the legions of man-children (of which I am probably one) in their 30s and 40s who will sinks thousands of their hard earned into it.

      You know, the Star Trek franchise has raked in something like $2 billion in merchandising alone over the years and SW merchandising revenue had always been at least double, if not triple, that of the Trek franchise. I’d say it is highly unlikely that SW TFA will do anything other that make a justifiably large amount of cash directly or indirectly, once it comes out, that means even if there is greater anticipation for Hunger Games, it’s largely irrelevant.

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:50 pm
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    I’m waiting for Hunger Games resolution too but, that’s…
    Impossibru!

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:56 pm
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    I don’t buy it. This is purely based on the fact that the final promotional onslaught for Force Awakens hasn’t started yet.

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:57 pm
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    Might help if they ever get a full trailer out.

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:57 pm
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    These polls are silly. TFA will still crush it at the box office opening weekend. Not that I care…just want to point out that polls are meaningless most of the time when used in this manner.

  • September 24, 2015 at 11:58 pm
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    Well, it’s encouraging that people can still get almost as excited about a geriatricmovie franchise like Star Wars compared to a more modern one.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:01 am
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    The power of this fanbase, that reaches decades over the generations of humanity, is insignificant next to the power of teenage fan girls.

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:01 pm
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      Enough Frisk, release him…

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:02 am
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    Kind of a pointless piece of “news”

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:04 am
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    The Hunger Games? How about, “The No thanks, I’m full Games”.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:07 am
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    Somebody knows when we’re going to see the new trailer?

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:12 am
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      Mid october according to some solid sources

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:55 am
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      I would bet something will be shown at Comiccon NYC on Oct 9th.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:12 am
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    I am still mad about that they still haven’t released a full trailer, it’s only less than three months away. While the Batman v Superman comes out the next year, even it has a full trailer already.

    I want TFA to break all the records, be the best movie of the year, please don’t disappoint me JJ.

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:15 am
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      Yeah i’m quite surprised that it isn’t already out, it must have a pretty basic and predictable plot if they’re afraid of showing more footage to us

      • September 25, 2015 at 2:49 am
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        I don’t think so; I think it’s just JJ’s obsession with secrecy. I think that the second a full trailer is released in October, this movie’s anticipation will go up exponentially.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:15 am
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    Doesn’t the Force Awakens come out in winter?

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:15 am
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      Nope. Winter begins Dec 21st

      • September 25, 2015 at 3:06 pm
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        What’s funny though is that the teaser specifically said “This Christmas”. I agree with you though that the fall/winter debate has no bearing on the anticipation and also that it is technically fall. However, I see the confusion.

        • September 25, 2015 at 3:38 pm
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          The Christmas season, which runs from Black Friday to Christmas Day (from a movie release and marketing standpoint) is in fall outside of the last few days. 🙂

          I get what people are saying. Its cold in the majority of regions where the film is being released, so you think winter. Just like people think of March as spring even though most of it is winter. Or that June is summer or September is Fall, when for the most part they aren’t. The majority of those months fall in the prior season.

          But in this case it doesn’t really matter. They didn’t build the survey on what season it feels like. They included the film in the survey because it is being released in Fall. Those trying to say people wouldn’t choose it because it feels more like a winter movie are desperately grasping at straws. There’s far stronger arguments to be made as to why this will turn out to be an poor reflection of actual excitement for the film.

          • September 27, 2015 at 10:35 am
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            So it falls in Fall?

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:46 am
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      This is probably why it’s second. Most people don’t realize that it’s technically being released in Fall.

      • September 25, 2015 at 2:22 am
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        Yeah, I agree. For me, it’s always been a winter movie.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:22 am
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    Not a typo, just the wrong type of people taking the survey.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:22 am
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    Hunger Games more so than Star Wars? How can you rightly justify these numbers seeing as you only asked 3,000 people of this day, to pit an adaptation of a young adult novel against something generations of people have been waiting to see for 30+ years? Every store ive walked in to within the last 2 years has had some form of Star Wars merchandise so marketing problems are out of the question

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:24 am
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    that’s because there are thousands of stupid teenagers that go watch that crappy series just because someone said them it’s cool. I say that being a teenager that couldn’t understand the sense of teenage bahaviour at times

    • September 25, 2015 at 7:57 am
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      How about when we were stupid kids going to see adventures about wizards, magical princesses, rolling dustbins, walking carpets and a bad guy with a breathing problem?

      • September 25, 2015 at 4:55 pm
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        I specified that I am a teenager right now, one of those who are supposed to fall for hunger games…

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:25 am
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    Don’t care about the pissing contest at the box office. I just want it to be a great Star Wars movie to me.

    • September 25, 2015 at 2:21 am
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      Me too.

    • September 25, 2015 at 7:55 am
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      Quite. It will still make enough for Disney to keep churning them out so it’s not like there’s anything to worry about. It just amuses me to see the fanboy rage over the notion that SW may not be every single human being’s priority.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:25 am
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    I wont deny, its probably the most successful young adult franchise aside from Harry Potter but pitting it against Star Wars is a joke but THIS version of Star Wars is almost an insult =/

    • September 25, 2015 at 2:20 am
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      How is Star Wars: TFA an “insult”?

    • September 25, 2015 at 7:54 am
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      Why is it an insult?

    • September 25, 2015 at 4:59 pm
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      I also thought that pitting Matrix against The Phantom Menace was going to be a joke but…

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:26 am
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    I’m guessing this will change if they decide to release a full f’n trailer before the movie actually comes out. lol

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:50 am
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      I think so too. A lot of people I know aren´t really even aware when TFA is coming out, but that will change as we get closer to December.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:37 am
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    The HG:M2 trailer has 13 million hits. The most recent Force Awakens trailer has 62 million hits.

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:14 pm
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      could be 13 million people watching it once versus 62 people watching it a million times each. …….. im a fan , not a fanatic , and i watched the trailers at least 20 or 30 times ….. dont think hunger games has many people who would do that .

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:41 am
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    Don’t worry this is just studio propaganda to ciphen a little bit of glory from Star Wars which will undoubtedly overshadow hunger games… It’s click bait…

    • September 25, 2015 at 7:53 am
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      lol, I love the denial. “Studio propaganda”. What is it’s just that this was the result of the poll and those polled were just being honest. No more, no less?

      No, it must be a conspiracy!

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:53 pm
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      “Ciphen”, cool typo! We could get some great new alien character names from the typos on this website: “Ciphen Rusk” – now tell me that ain’t a perfect name for a badass, Bothan spy, eager to avenge all his buddies who were killed getting information for the Rebellion

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:41 am
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    May the Force be Ever in your Favor.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:46 am
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    If it wasn’t multiple choice it’s meaningless. I myself didn’t realize TFA was being released in the Fall because I consider all of December to be Winter in my mind.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:49 am
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    Ehhh. When the trailer drops…………different story.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:50 am
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    Before anyone freaks, keep in mind that this survey is of a limited scope and represents only a small fraction of the general movie-going populace. This analysis is not including the fact that both franchises have a built-in fanbase, which can heavily sway the figures. By no means does this insinuate that Hunger Games will out-gross Star Wars. It does mean, however, that the general movie going audience has a keen interest in Star Wars, and when you factor in the fanbase, the odds of this film breaking multiple box office records are very good.

  • September 25, 2015 at 12:58 am
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    I never even saw the second hunger games, it was so shitty. and I read the books

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:50 am
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      The second one was fine. Certainly better paced than the book. Third one sucked, though.

      • September 25, 2015 at 3:50 am
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        Third one was awesome! Just for that dam scene!

  • September 25, 2015 at 1:03 am
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    Are these “very different stories”? They both follow the structure of the Heroe’s Journey, with reluctant female protagonists from war-torn worlds who fulfill their destinies as freedom-restoring warriors. I think once marketing kicks in for Star Wars and this becomes abundantly clear, female interest will rise.

  • September 25, 2015 at 1:24 am
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    Why would we be surprised about a movie survey taken in Variety of all places!?

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:26 am
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      Survey was done by Piedmont Media Research. This wasn’t a variety poll.

      • September 25, 2015 at 2:40 am
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        What was the criteria for their ‘sample’? I always look at WHO they’re polling.

        • September 25, 2015 at 2:44 am
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          This is all the info that was given in the article.

          From Variety:The people surveyed were selected to be demographically representative
          of the movie-going public in terms of age, gender, ticket-buying
          behavior and ethnicity.

  • September 25, 2015 at 1:29 am
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    I’m not surprised at all. I am highly anticipating The Force Awakens but I recognize its been 32 years since Return of the Jedi and the Star Wars prequels, while I liked them, were not recognized as great films. I think a lot of hardcore fans tend to over estimate the general public’s desire and anticipation for new Star Wars films. Every young person I encounter rather family, friends of family or online through message/comment boards tends to want to see Star Wars but is much more excited for Captain America Civil War or Batman vs. Superman.

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:48 am
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      Agreed. “Overestimation of desire and anticipation” is definitely true. Everyone definitely doesn’t live in a Star Wars bubble, as a matter of fact, most Star Wars fans don’t. People like us are the overwhelming minority. As a matter of fact, we aren’t even the people who make up the majority of the revenue.

      • September 25, 2015 at 2:59 am
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        I like my Star Wars bubble though. haha

        • September 25, 2015 at 12:45 pm
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          And I like my “rusk”, soaked in milk thank you…

      • September 25, 2015 at 7:51 am
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        Yeah, but after the letdown of the prequels you’d think that at least older fans would not be so arrogant as to still beat the “SW is the best thing evaaaar” drum.

        SW, like anything else, is not untouchable and is capable of failure. Christ, I remember the late eighties and mid nineties when the Star Trek franchise was an untouchable juggernaut. A decade later and people had lost interest….and that is still the case to a certain degree, despite the relatively good box office receipts for JJTrek, it’s never again reached the heights it once had.

        Disney are embarking on a huge project and it is a huge rusk, especially when you consider that there are already hints of people beginning to tire of the mega-franchise approach. We should not be so confident that SW is, and will always remain, the biggest draw of all time.

        • September 25, 2015 at 4:49 pm
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          I was not let down of the prequels, only about some minor issues such as Luke and Leia birth and naming and Padme dying of a broken heart, kid didn´t have the higher ground, UNLIMITED POWER, NOOOOOOOOOOOO, Order 66. Only those let me down. The rest was super B.

    • September 25, 2015 at 7:46 am
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      At least someone is in touch with reality…..

  • September 25, 2015 at 1:43 am
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    So basically it’s the third most anticipated movie they’ve ever polled for, and the movie doesn’t even have a trailer yet–pretty impressive!

  • September 25, 2015 at 1:46 am
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    please! ive never sat thru a hunger games movie as i think the premise is stupid. we’ll see who tops the box office!

  • September 25, 2015 at 1:47 am
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    SWTFA comes out in late December, which in my mind is winter. Yes, I know winter technically only arrives a few days after the release date, but for intents and purposes, it’s winter time. If someone were to ask me which movie I anticipated the most this fall season, I wouldn’t think of SW because I keep thinking that’s coming out this coming winter. And I’m a huge SW fan.

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:51 am
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      I would imagine those being surveyed were given a list. Otherwise, I doubt they would have received responses for Jem and the Holograms or MacBeth.

      The article calls out that a previous survey omitted TFA from their options implying these surveys use a selection of films to choose from.

    • September 25, 2015 at 4:13 am
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      Just a side comment, but December is actually summer in Australia ! Not that it matters as the Southern Hemisphere in general is a small market

  • September 25, 2015 at 2:03 am
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    Hunger what?…. I’ve heard of… fortunately haven’t seen….

  • September 25, 2015 at 2:10 am
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    Hunger Games has a full trailer out. Just sayin.

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:08 pm
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      Star Wars hates spoilers and probably has more out than it should, what with having 2 “teaser” trailers. I like what we got and I’ll wait for December. Star Wars doesn’t really need to be this complicated, my plan is to, you know, WATCH the movie. Just saiyan.

      • September 29, 2015 at 3:43 am
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        I think it has a lot more to do with JJ’s mystery box obsession. I’m not a fan of JJ and those teasers looked just like his work. I think there was one shot in them that really felt OT Star Wars.

  • September 25, 2015 at 2:10 am
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    The second Hunger movie was a bore!

    • September 25, 2015 at 12:02 pm
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      I thought the 2nd one was in some ways superior to the 1st [helps that I like the actors who join in] – but SW is WAY more interesting to me. HG is an okay franchise, it has some interesting subject matter – though they are not entertaining. It almost feels more like a philosophical feature length video-game cut-scene: nice food for thought, but by no means ENJOYABLE in the conventional sense of the word. The Hunger Games always comes across as sort of half a film, like there’s something missing.
      Star Wars [or at least the Star Wars I’M thinking of] is well-rounded, and covers the full sweep of cinema enjoyment.

      There is no comparison, Star Wars is apple pie, and hunger games is an olive. I like pie.

  • September 25, 2015 at 2:29 am
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    This depresses me.

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:26 pm
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      Don’t worry, when the trailer comes out, the interest for this movie will make sure they surpass the one for Hunger games!

  • September 25, 2015 at 3:14 am
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    I don’t buy it

  • September 25, 2015 at 3:41 am
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    My assumption is that when there is finally a FULL trailer including some story and Daisy Ridley (to pull in the casual female audience) there will be a change in interest.

    • September 25, 2015 at 1:25 pm
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      Damn straight!

  • September 25, 2015 at 4:29 am
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    Who cares? We want to see Star Wars, if its not the most packed movie this winter good, more room for me!

    • September 25, 2015 at 8:00 pm
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      Just what I was thinking. I don’t want loads of casual douchebags packing out the cinema crowding me out.
      If I had my way they’d test your Star Wars knowledge on the first 2 nights; the fans get in – the casuals get the cinema door slammed in their face 🙂 (just joking – before someone takes this post seriously and throws a wobbler).

      • September 30, 2015 at 6:25 pm
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        The EU purists get a throat punch too.

  • September 25, 2015 at 5:27 am
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    Pfffffffffffftttttttt

  • September 25, 2015 at 5:29 am
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    At this point these polls and box office predictons ate pointless. Wait till the movie comes out, it’s gknna take the world like a cinematic tsunami

    • September 25, 2015 at 4:41 pm
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      This bickering is pointless.

  • September 25, 2015 at 5:43 am
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    LOL Star Wars will steam roll Hunger Games. This was funny.

    • September 25, 2015 at 4:41 pm
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      Yeah… Just as I supposed that TPM would steam roll over Matrix back in 99…

      • September 26, 2015 at 4:52 pm
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        I think Hunger Games will beat it opening weekend with something like 170-180. But the highest grossing Hunger Games movie made 900 worldwide, do you really think Star Wars can’t beat that?

        • September 30, 2015 at 6:24 pm
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          SW is doing 2 billion.

          • October 1, 2015 at 6:05 am
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            I would love to see that, my expectations are around 1.7-1.8. Those people who think this is going to beat Avatar and just blind fanboys off their rocker (nothing wrong with that).

      • September 30, 2015 at 6:24 pm
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        Check the facts. It very much did. The Matrix shit out and here we are with Ep 7…. Matrix, what?

  • September 25, 2015 at 6:13 am
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    But the real question is: Is interest in Star Wars descending or is the proximity of Hunger Games giving it a boost?

  • September 25, 2015 at 6:40 am
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    #whitegirls

    • September 26, 2015 at 6:27 am
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      HA

  • September 25, 2015 at 7:18 am
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    To those of you 35 and under: Enjoy these last few months leading up to The Force Awakens. Nothing will ever match the excitement and anticipation as this one. The sequels will surely captivate and enthrall, but you can’t reopen a gift so-to-speak. As a kid waiting in line to see Empire, I remember the sheer wonder and uncertainty as the lights dimmed and we were thrust into the ice planet of Hoth. I also remember walking out of Jedi with a sense of sadness, knowing that I would never again hang out with my old friends Luke and Han. Trust me when I say that NO ONE over 35 ever thought they’d return to the galaxy that WE KNEW, and yet here we are, on the cusp of it. I’m truly excited for all the youngsters out there who will get to experience the same spectacle and wonder again. There’s a reason so many people got choked up over the second trailer, and that’s because we all realize we’re about to get the sweetest Christmas present ever. We know the feeling, and now you will too. Savor it. And if you have kids, savor it even more. You may never know this feeling again.

    • September 25, 2015 at 7:43 am
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      You’re being recklessly confident if I may say so….automatically assuming that because it has elements you want to see that it will, by default, have the same quality as the originals. This movie has clearly been tailored for older fans like us, while very much overlooking the younger twenty-something fans and below who grew up with and genuinely enjoy the prequels.

      It’s fan arrogance on our part that presumes our version of Star Wars is the only version and that younger people are somehow going to pick up on that now.

      It doesn’t surprise me for a second that a series specifically directed at the generation before hours is generating the most interest.

      • September 25, 2015 at 9:52 am
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        Um no. “Reckless” is driving under the influence or blowing your rent money. I stand by my comments. The Force Awakens will return us to the galaxy many of us grew up with, and then hand it off to a new generation of characters. In that respect, it’s a win-win for both young and old. But in the original galaxy.

        Peace.

        • September 25, 2015 at 11:30 am
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          I’m shocked how Prince Poopy Pooch could be so negative about a post I thought it was hard for anyone to take exception to!

      • September 29, 2015 at 7:53 am
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        ^^^^SMARTEST MOTHER FUCKER^^^^^^ ….on the internet….Seriously dude. Kudos to you. You get it.

      • September 30, 2015 at 6:23 pm
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        Exactly. I saw ANH in 77. Love the prequels so this anticipation is like 80, 83, 99 all over again…. Love it and bring it on…. I hate the halsies. love it all or go home.

  • September 25, 2015 at 11:17 am
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    Is this according to the same group of folk that belong to that twilight nonsense?
    I call BS on this one.

  • September 25, 2015 at 11:17 am
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    All I’m saying is force Friday! And the toys are allredy becoming this years must have toy with kylo ren and captin phasma figurs doubling in price.
    I know people that haven visited the pictures for years going to see the force awakens just to see Harrison ford back On screen.
    Most SW fans will probably go and see the film more than once. I did the prequals and though Iv now grown fond of them. Did long for original trilogy feel fillms.

  • September 25, 2015 at 11:23 am
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    My only fear is over saturation I would have preferd this trilogy of films first then the anthology trilogy after matey leaving a bit of a gap.but I’m a starwars fan and have been for 35 or so years. So I will probably be happy any way. Just don’t want them to kill it. Sometimes less is more

    • September 25, 2015 at 11:41 am
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      Agreed. Ideally Lucas Films would resurrect other properties like Indiana Jones, Willow, THX1138 in the mix to refrain from over saturation of Star Wars.
      In 90s, there are Star Trek Original series, The next generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterpraise, all broadcasting, which leads to near extinction of Star Trek franchise in TV.

      • September 25, 2015 at 1:20 pm
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        Finn is the offspring of Lando and Leia, hence why he has the force. Leia had a thing for scoundrels…

        • September 25, 2015 at 4:04 pm
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          Luke and Leia are in real Obi-Wan + Padmé children.

  • September 25, 2015 at 1:02 pm
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    said it before- beyond the ,admittedly huge , established fanbase , no one really cares …. the toys will sell by the bucket load in the uk , but like power rangers , very few will actually see the film or series they belong to when its new.

    repeated viewings from existing fans is what will make the money.

    • September 25, 2015 at 4:02 pm
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      I second that. No one really cares about Star Wars, just us, big sick fans.

      • September 25, 2015 at 5:05 pm
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        this is woefully incorrect. Star Wars is a huge box-office draw outside of the fandom. how anyone can say “very few” will actually see this new movie, is beyond me.

        • September 25, 2015 at 5:38 pm
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          Still it was overshadowed by Avatar or Titanic or Matrix. The “outside the fandom” changes opinion very quick.

          • September 25, 2015 at 7:11 pm
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            firstly, just because a film or two has out-performed Star Wars at the box-office doesn’t mean “a few” people will go to see Star Wars.

            Secondly, it wasn’t even overshadowed by those films – the all time box-office adjusted for inflation has Titanic at number 5 and Avatar at number 14, The Matrix doesn’t EVEN APPEAR in the TOP 200!!! (Matrix Reloaded is number 115).

            Hmmm what’s that movie at number 2? 😉

        • September 25, 2015 at 6:35 pm
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          very few will see the film when its new …. is the full quote , loads will download it , see it on netflix whatever ….. loads of fans will pay loads of money to see it loads of times , few non fans will . …

          in the usa fury road was out performed by pitch perfect 2

      • September 30, 2015 at 6:20 pm
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        wrong…. repeat business too.

  • September 25, 2015 at 3:54 pm
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    Tabloid press version of click bait?

    That or the public have heard about the lack of Luke?

    • September 25, 2015 at 9:41 pm
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      Or marketing hasn’t gone into full swing while hunger Games is coming fresh off a recent string of successful movies.

  • September 25, 2015 at 5:10 pm
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    The world is going downhill…

  • September 25, 2015 at 5:11 pm
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    The world is going downhill….

  • September 25, 2015 at 6:06 pm
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    There is a lot of weight behind this. There are several people I have brought The Force Awakens up to even this week, that had absolutely no idea there was a new Star Wars movie coming out, they were even more shocked when they heard it was just a couple months away. I actually do think it is panic time for Disney, lack of a full trailer and TV spots this close to release is pretty shameful.

    • September 25, 2015 at 7:17 pm
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      I think Disney is positioned well. Any more than two months of hardcore frothing at the mouth, stormtrooper farnboys in the streets mega-geekdom will cause burnout. Only we who cruise star wars blogs in our spare time can take that. We want the Star Wars fever to be at its peak on 16 December, not its plateau.

      • September 25, 2015 at 7:23 pm
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        I agree with the plateau bit, but to think that many people aren’t even aware that a new Star Wars movie is even coming out is head-scratching. At this point more than the fan base as a whole should be aware that it is only 83 days away. Tickets reported to go on sale in a couple weeks…

    • September 26, 2015 at 6:25 am
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      SHAMEFUL

    • September 30, 2015 at 6:20 pm
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      that’s just typical stupid people who have no clue about star wars or anything else really.

      • September 30, 2015 at 6:46 pm
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        You may be spot on about at least one of the people I know that didn’t know.. He did seem excited to know that a new movie was near. Which is kind of my point. Even those people should know by now. I do understand not everyone is a fan, I’m over here looking for every detail I can find.

        • September 30, 2015 at 8:34 pm
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          I can even accept those people, but the ones who scream it from the rooftops they are huge fans and STILL have no idea are the idiots to avoid. They are almost as dumb as the hardcore EU purists.

          • October 1, 2015 at 10:13 am
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            Yes let’s shame people for lack of knowledge. Or not. You’re a moron.

          • October 2, 2015 at 7:48 pm
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            Damn right. Fuck you and all the ignorant morons.

  • September 25, 2015 at 6:21 pm
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    The Hunger Games, right now, probably is more popular with millennials than Star Wars. Anyone serious about film will acknowledge that the original Star Wars Trilogy is better than the Hunger Games. But millennials see the OT as something from their parents day. If the Force Awakens delivers the goods, hopefully that perspective will change.

    • September 25, 2015 at 7:40 pm
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      I know. i agree. This is going to change the millenials persepctive of star wars and make everyone forget hunger games ever existed. all these little teen book films (harry potter,twilight. hunger games, and some other ones that are even worth remembering the name of) will be long forgotten when star wars sits upon the throne again. Also i was at kohls looking at the force awakens shirts display and some kids were with their mom and the girl says” i never even seen star wars, my parents love it but its too long for me” i just shook my head. sad that kids dont have the attention span to watch a epic story.

      • September 29, 2015 at 11:10 pm
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        When I was little (I’m currrently 19), I couldn’t sit through Star Wars either. I don’t know why, really. It wasn’t until the prequels wrapped up and I played LEGO Star Wars for the first time in 2006 that I said “…woah, this stuff is AMAZING”. Now my life is in the toilet and I owe it all to Star Wars. <3

        Also, I doubt this'll change perspectives much. If these kids are bored by Star Wars in the first place, I doubt they'll be able to sit through TFA. It doesn't even have a teenage protagonist fighting the odds! ;P

    • September 30, 2015 at 6:18 pm
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      Anyone serious about film doesn’t care how old a film is, as long as its great….

  • September 25, 2015 at 8:53 pm
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    LOL, they are in for a big disappointment if they think that Hunger Games will beat out Star Wars at the box office.

    The best box-office performance for Hunger Games in the series was Catching Fire with 864M. (Mockingjay Part 1 made 752M)

    Revenge of the Sith did 848M, and didn’t have the advantage of 3D, IMAX, Large Screen Format. (also not adjusting for inflation)

    TFA also has the advantage of the best release date (historically).

    The Star Wars brand is worth exponentially more than the Hunger Games.

    That branding will have the same effect that it did on Jurassic World’s box office. (the 3rd highest grossing movie of all time, despite mediocre reviews, and poor tracking leading up to the release)

    • October 1, 2015 at 10:11 am
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      The people interrogated by the survey are not in “for a big disappointement” because they don’t care about hunger games comparative gross to star wars. Only people frustratingly commenting on news feed care. Although I very much agree, SW will beat hunger games at the box office without a doubt.

  • September 25, 2015 at 11:25 pm
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    In 1976, Starlog Magazine published a little picture of a painting. White-armored soldiers in a bright-lit hallway holding swords with bright laser blades.

    So, Star Wars was my #1 Most Anticipated movie for 1977. (But then again, the list was only one movie long. If there was another, it would have been “Star Wars”).

    Now, it’s the same for The Force Awakens. It’s definitely my #1 Most Anticipated release this year. And it’s a safe bet that it’s the same for most of us here. We’re Star Wars fans!

    But what’s with all these “pick-a-fight” movie lists? (Which is winning… which is losing…which is most anticipated…which-which… yada-yada… pit one movie “versus” another — the media flash and dazzle is tiring me, not getting me excited.

    It’s just an attention grabbing illusion! It’s click bait.

    For Ridley Scott fans it’ll be the Martian.

    For James Bond fans, it’ll be Spectre.

    For Hunger Games fans it’ll be Mockingly – Part 2.

    To those who make these lists: Why does it even matter which one I want to see first?!

    I don’t want to be part of a winners-and-losers lists. They mean NOTHING to me.

    I just wanna sit with my popcorn and enjoy the show.

  • September 26, 2015 at 1:35 am
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    looking at the amount of views on YouTube for the two trailers (1 & 2) so far for Star Wars 7 + counting also the multiple channels they are being viewed on (official and others) there seems at first look about 10x more views for those than Hunger Games – I am not a pollster – but doesn’t this make sense, am I missing something to this equation – that Star Wars has probably likely much more anticipation – Star Wars is unleashing a Galactic Force Spanking of anticipation per se it seems according to YouTube view counts at least

    • October 1, 2015 at 10:05 am
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      There is nothing missing from the equation. Youtube view count is simply not representative of the general population.

  • September 26, 2015 at 2:05 am
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    they polled only 3,000 ppl, and that means hunger games is more anticipated than force awakens? lol

    • September 30, 2015 at 6:17 pm
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      14 y/o girls.

  • September 26, 2015 at 5:29 am
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    Star Wars is gonna suck…..you all know it to be true….trust your feelings…..give in to hate

    • September 28, 2015 at 7:33 pm
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      Go away, Sith.

    • September 30, 2015 at 1:33 am
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      troll you are. ignored you will be.

    • September 30, 2015 at 6:17 pm
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      get fucked.

  • September 26, 2015 at 6:28 am
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    Hunger Games is a rip-off of the brilliant Japanese film, Battle Royale that came out in 2000.

    • September 26, 2015 at 4:11 pm
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      You could just as easily say Star Wars is a rip-off a brilliant Japanese film, The Hidden Fortress, and a million other stories.

      • October 10, 2015 at 4:04 am
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        I have seen a Hidden Fortress and it has very little to do with Star Wars. Just like how Ghost in the Shell has very little to do with the Matrix.

  • September 26, 2015 at 11:52 am
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    Second? THE SECOND?? Ok, the survey clearly does not cover general geek population worldwide.

    • September 26, 2015 at 4:12 pm
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      Hunger Games is the last one, so people have a lot invested. There are only a few characters in the TFA that people are even familiar with. With no characters like Yoda, Vader, Emperor, Obiwan, etc. and no promotion on what the movie is about, I’m surprised it ranked as high as it did. JJ and Disney better get over there fear of marketing and spoilers or we could have another Star Trek Into Darkness failure.

  • September 29, 2015 at 11:19 pm
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    Honestly, this poll seems like it was collected at the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. Hunger Games is really popular right now, and let’s face it, Star Wars isn’t.

    Of course the typical moviegoer – not Star Wars fan specifically, /movie goer/ – when asked about what they’re more excited about, wil give the popular answer. The people interviewed were most likely “the regular person”. These are the types of people that listen to FM Radio and rock out to the newest (objectively terrible) song for a few months until the next new song becomes “their jam”.

    So, I wouldn’t take this poll too seriously if I were you, guys. Star Wars will more than certainly crush Hunger Games, since Star Wars has that incredible staying power that just lasts longer. Hunger Games isn’t awful, and to be honest I think it’ll last for years like Harry Potter did/will, but it can’t compete with the name that singlehandedly changed cinema nearly 40 years ago.

  • September 30, 2015 at 6:16 pm
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    HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA! “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” why? UGH. These are the dummies, teh regular joes, who watch one or two movies a year and don’t know a fucking thing about them…. Hunger Games is like most movies today- dull and forgettable. No staying power and defintely NO iconic power. Many morons predicted the death of Star Wars for reasons based on their own ego- not true at all. SW will be the highest grossing film of the year and of all time. Again.

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