Lion Holds No.1 at the Box Office for Third Consecutive Week

Press Release: Thursday 9 February 2017

LION HOLDS NO.1 AT THE BOX OFFICE FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE WEEK

LION, Saroo Brierley’s incredible true story about love, hope and family has smashed the NZ Box Office - in just 3 weeks LION has taken over $2 million and remains at no.1 at the NZ box office for the third week in a row. A phenomenal result for this Oscar contender.

The official NZ box office total as reported today is $2,009,534. LION finishes ahead of Hidden Figures, Split and Pork Pie.

Cinemas are encouraged by the ongoing support for this film and it shows no signs of slowing up, with the film heading into week 4 on 101 screens, with additional cinemas added across the country.

LION is a real hit with NZ audiences with many people returning to the cinema for repeat viewing. Critics and audiences are calling this film an absolute must see for 2017.

Joint Managing Directors of Transmission Films - Andrew Mackie and Richard Payten comment “We are thrilled with the dual 3 weeks at #1 in both New Zealand and Australia. LION is a heart-warming true story that audiences are flocking to around the world, it is of course particularly special to our part of the world so it is wonderful to see audiences down-under embracing this film.”

The film is dominating the box office across the ditch too, celebrating its third week at no.1. This is the first time since CROCODILE DUNDEE in 1986 (more than thirty years ago) an Australian film topped the box office charts for three consecutive weekends. It has now taken a massive $16.3 million in Australia.

Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Film, LION continues to connect with audiences all around the world, having grossed almost $70 million in worldwide box office to date. LION expanded to over 1,800 screens in the US on Friday increasing its takings by 100%.

This week Director Garth Davis won the highly prestigious DGA (Directors’ Guild of America) award for Director of a First Time Feature Film and Greig Fraser, nominated for an Oscar for his work on LION, won Best Cinematographer as awarded by the American Society of Cinematographers.

LION is directed by Garth Davis from a screenplay by Luke Davies and stars Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, David Wenham and Sunny Pawar. LION opened in NZ cinemas on January 19, 2017.

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