Lionsgate and Gold Circle Films' Supernatural Horror Thriller, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, Spooks Its Way to the Number One Spot on the DVD and Blu-ray Charts

Lionsgate and Gold Circle Films' Supernatural Horror Thriller, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, Spooks Its Way to the Number One Spot on the DVD and Blu-ray Charts

BASED ON A TRUE STORY, THE TITLE SOLD MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION UNITS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND WAS ALSO #3 ITUNES DOWNLOAD

SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Following its successful theatrical run, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT scared up big numbers during its first week of release on all home entertainment formats. The supernatural horror thriller from LIONSGATE (NYSE:LGF), the leading next generation studio, and Gold Circle Films debuted at number one on the DVD sell-through and Blu-ray charts with 1.5 million units sold. The title, which features an all-star cast led by Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen (SIDEWAYS, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, 2004), Elias Koteas (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON) and Martin Donovan (Showtime's "Weeds"), also was the number two rental title and the number three download on iTunes for the week. Based on a true story, the film earned more than $55 million during its theatrical run.

"People have always been fascinated by real-life supernatural events and the fact that THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT was based on true events certainly piqued the public's curiosity in seeing the movie," said Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate Home Entertainment General Manager and Executive Vice President. "We further capitalized upon that interest with the DVD release by including extensive special features that expand upon the true story of the haunting."

Lionsgate continues to have success in the horror genre. The studio produces and distributes the most successful long running horror franchise in history as SAW has earned more than $667.5 million in worldwide box office and has sold more than 28 million DVDs. In 2009, Lionsgate has released SAW V, MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, and THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT on home entertainment formats and they have combined to earn more than $150 million in consumer spend.

Lionsgate finished the week with two of the top five DVD sales titles as the Season 2 release of the critically acclaimed Lionsgate and AMC television series Mad Men debuted in the #5 spot on the DVD sales chart.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Based on a chilling true story, the supernatural ghost tale, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT chronicles one family's terrifying, real-life encounter with the dark forces of the supernatural. THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT features an all-star cast led by Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen (SIDEWAYS, Actress in a Supporting Role, 2004), Elias Koteas (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON) and Martin Donovan (Showtime's "Weeds").

When the Campbell family moves to upstate Connecticut, they soon learn that their charming Victorian home has a disturbing history: not only was the house formerly a funeral parlor where inconceivable acts occurred, but the owner's clairvoyant son Jonah served as a demonic messenger, providing a gateway for spiritual entities to crossover. Now, unspeakable terror awaits when Jonah, the boy who communicated with the dead, returns to unleash a new kind of horror on the innocent and unsuspecting family.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
-- "Two Dead Boys: The Making of The Haunting in Connecticut" featurette
-- "The Fear is Real: Re-Investigating the Haunting" two-part documentary
-- "Memento Mori: The History of Post Mortem Photography" featurette
-- "Anatomy of a Haunting" - a conversation with Barry Taff PhD and
Psychic Jack Rourke
-- Deleted scenes with optional commentary by Director Peter Cornwell
-- Audio Filmmaker Commentary with Director Peter Cornwell, Co-writer
Adam Simon, Producer Andrew Trapani and Editor Tom Elkins
-- Audio Commentary with Director Peter Cornwell and actors Virginia
Madsen and Kyle Gallner

-- Theatrical Trailer

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
-- Unrated Version of the film with optional audio commentaries with the
Director, Producer, Cast and Crew
-- "Two Dead Boys: The Making of The Haunting in Connecticut" featurette
-- "The Fear Is Real: Re-Investigating the Haunting" two-part documentary
-- "Memento Mori: The History of Postmortem Photography" featurette
-- "Anatomy of a Haunting" - a conversation with Barry Taff PhD and
Psychic Jack Rourke
-- Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by Director Peter Cornwell

-- Theatrical Trailer

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury, reality programming through its joint venture with ISH Entertainment and an array of channel platform assets. Its feature film business achieved a record box office performance in the recent January-March 2009 quarter, driven by the success of "TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL," "MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D" and "THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT." The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and leads the industry in its box office-to-DVD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

www.lionsgate.com

For Press Inquiries Contact:

Lionsgate
Jodie Magid/Jennifer Sandler
212-386-6885/310-255-4072
Jmagid@lionsgate.com/jsandler@lionsgate.com

For Lionsgate Corporate Inquiries, Contact:

Peter D. Wilkes
310-255-3726
pwilkes@lionsgate.com

Source: Lionsgate

CONTACT: Press, Jodie Magid, +1-212-386-6885, Jmagid@lionsgate.com, or
Jennifer Sandler, +1-310-255-4072, jsandler@lionsgate.com, or Corporate
Inquiries, Peter D. Wilkes, +1-310-255-3726, pwilkes@lionsgate.com, all of
Lionsgate

Web Site: http://www.lionsgate.com/

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