Dolby Laboratories

Attention, Citizens of Panem

The most anticipated day of 2012 is finally here.

No, don’t be confused, it’s not Election Day. No, it’s not the Opening Ceremonies of the London Summer Olympics and no, thankfully it’s not December 21, the unlikely end of the world. It’s March 23, the opening day of one of the most highly anticipated (and most heavily marketed) movies in years, The Hunger Games.

What makes The Hunger Games so highly anticipated? Maybe it’s the fact that the book has sold more than 2.9 million copies around the world. It could be the $45 million marketing budget to promote the film or the innovative use of social media to generate buzz and excitement.

It could be the fact that so little footage of the actual film has been released, leaving an air of mystery surrounding the big release.  Or of course it could be because it’s the latest blockbuster title that will utilize Dolby Surround 7.1 to deliver the most impressive theatrical entertainment experience! I’m probably biased toward the latter hypothesis, so let’s call it a truce and agree that it’s probably all these reasons and more.

In addition to being so highly anticipated, I think all of these realities will combine to make The Hunger Games one of the most immersive movie experiences of all time. What do I mean by immersive? The Hunger Games has built up a fervent, and dare I say hungry band of followers.

Over the last year (or more), we read the books, we became emotionally invested in the characters, we became one of the 3 millions of fans on Facebook, we participated in the online games and we followed the fan blogs. We’ve been assigned our District number and occupation and we’ve been issued our Panem ID card. Before the first minute of the movie hits the screen, it’s like we’re already a part of the Games.

The time is here my friends! Today marks the beginning of what will likely be a massive multi-year movie franchise and I for one couldn’t be more excited.

Team Peeta? Team Gale? It doesn’t matter. Let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!

Whether you see it once, twice or thrice, be sure to see it in Dolby Surround 7.1! Find your local theater here.

- Derek Brookmeyer is an Americas Marketing Manager at Dolby.  In addition he is a Midwesterner turned SF lover, college sports watcher, pug owner, soul seeker, adventurer, backpacker, marathoner, TV and online addict!