The most anticipated movie of 2012 has finally been released to the public. The Hunger Games started as a book series and quickly gained popularity, even being on the best sellers list for months. Excitement got out of control when Director Gary Ross announced he would be filming the Hunger Games.

“Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which ‘Tributes’ must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the guidance of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love,” Lionsgate Film Company summarizes the movie.

Although the mall was closed, the Louis Joliet Cinemark Theater was filled with Hunger Games fans. Being that this movie was so anticipated, when the movie was released on March 23rd, the pre-sale tickets for the midnight showings were sold out in a matter of minutes. Luckily, most movie theaters prepared for this by scheduling more showings every 2 minutes.

Entering the theater the night of the premiere was out of control. Cinemark employees were amazed that fans were sitting outside the theater as early as 11 o’clock in the morning that Thursday.  Hundreds of people were waiting in lines for their time and many people were even dressed up as characters for this occasion.  There was even a Hunger Games themed kiosk outside Cinemark, which sold items ranging from flip flops to full-sized cut outs of Katniss and Peeta.  Fans had to be careful not to stand around for too long, though, for Cinemark employees would approach by standers and tell them to either get into their theater or get out.

Once entering the theater, one was in a different world.  Cheering, screaming and crying could all be heard or seen in the theater.  We don’t  want this to be a total spoiler alert, so if you haven’t seen The Hunger Games yet, well, let’s just say that it definitely is worth the $9 ticket!