Overview

• Lionsgate’s release opened at No. 4 in the U.S. with $11.5 million across roughly 2,845 theaters, trailing February’s The Monkey (~$14 million) in a crowded frame led by Demon Slayer and The Conjuring.
• Critics peg the film around 89–90% on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting its lean brutality and standout turns from a young ensemble that includes Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson.
• Directed by Francis Lawrence from J. T. Mollner’s script, the film centers on a televised walk-or-die contest that functions as a stark dystopian allegory.
• Coverage notes a significant, director-acknowledged departure from the novel’s ending that Stephen King approved, which has become a key topic of discussion without revealing specifics.
• With a reported budget near $20 million, the film will rely on steady holds, and industry watchers expect a PVOD window in roughly three to four weeks and a later debut on Starz, though no dates are confirmed.