FX Bags the Official Rights to the '2012' Explosion

Like all of Emmerich's other 'end of the world' movies (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow), 2012 is the expected apocalypse movie that has it all - story line, special effects, fantastic casting and the entire works. With the movie already grossing over $225 million over the opening weekend, FX has wasted no time and acquired its rights for a cable premiere. This much-awaited event is likely to take place in the beginning of the year 2012, and rightly so too.

Along with 2012, FX has also gotten its hands on the other blockbuster horror comedy of the year, 'Zombieland'. This movie is scheduled for being aired in the latter half of 2010. Both the movies will earn Sony the standard license rate of 12% of domestic box office collections. Considering that it is expected that '2012' will cross $200 million in the domestic market and 'Zombieland' has grossed about $73 million, their price tags could range anywhere around $24 million and $9 million respectively.

FX has generated a reputation of being an aggressive buyer of Hollywood blockbusters in the recent times. In fact, they already have in their kitty, movies like 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' and 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'. They also hold the cable rights to 'Star Trek', 'Night at the Museum', 'Monsters vs. Aliens', etc. FX has also reaped heavy profits from such big buys, for almost all special effect movies and have done well on it.

About '2012', here's some trivia that you may not have known before.

• This 'end-of-the-world' story cost around $200 million to produce, but with around 105 simultaneous foreign and domestic openings, it has recovered $225 million in the weekend itself.
• Statistical analysis of the '2012' audience data revealed a 52% male viewing audience and 55% of total viewers being aged 25 years and above.
• After receiving an overwhelming public response for the film, Sony distributor president Rory Bruer had this to say. "I felt the Earth move. Audiences responded to the amazing images they were seeing throughout the film's campaign. The movie really did raise the bar, even for Roland Emmerich."
• Not only did '2012' make simultaneous releases in 105 territories, it was screened at a phenomenal 12, 685 screens around the world. This opening is the biggest opening for a non sequel movie in overseas box office openings.
• In the domestic circuits, '2012' rose to the number one opening spot, replacing Michael Jackson's movie, 'This is It', which held the spot for two consecutive frames.
• This phenomenal success reaped by '2012' is far from over for it is yet to release in some countries. It is set to release in Japan this coming Friday and in South Africa and Argentina on the 2nd and 3rd of December respectively.

Anyways, if you haven't been able to catch this movie yet, now is your time to do so at the earliest. Enjoy the horror, the destruction and the chaos that the director has so effectively portrayed. The movie's sure to leave you asking, "Is this really what's coming?"