Steven Spielberg's "Ready Player One" Scores $300 Million Worldwide

(April 6, 2018 – Burbank, CA) – Propelled by extraordinary returns in China, Warner Bros. Pictures, Amblin Entertainment and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “Ready Player One” is crossing the $300 million mark at the global box office.  The action adventure, from filmmaker Steven Spielberg, surpasses that number today, April 6, as it enters only its second weekend in release.

With nearly $143 million (RMB 897m) and counting at the Chinese box office, “Ready Player One” is already the biggest Warner Bros. release ever in China. 

Additionally, the widely acclaimed film topped the domestic box office in its opening weekend, and also debuted at #1 in major international markets, including France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and Australia.  The film is also playing strong in such major territories as the UK and Korea, with Germany opening this weekend and Japan on April 20.

Spielberg directed “Ready Player One” from a screenplay by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline, based on Cline’s global bestseller of the same name.  The film was produced by Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Spielberg and Dan Farah.  Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Chris deFaria and Bruce Berman served as executive producers. 

“Ready Player One” stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki, Hannah John-Kamen, with Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance. 

Spielberg’s behind-the-scenes creative team was led by director of photography Janusz Kaminski, production designer Adam Stockhausen, editors Michael Kahn and Sarah Broshar, and costume designer Kasia Walicka Maimone.  The score is by Alan Silvestri.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment present, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, an Amblin Production, a De Line Pictures Production, a Steven Spielberg Film, “Ready Player One.”

Playing in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX, the film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.  This film has been rated PG-13.

Source: Warner Bros.

Patty Hirsch Named Senior Vice President & General Manager, Warner Bros. Digital Labs

(March 21, 2018 – Burbank, CA) – Patty Hirsch has been named Senior Vice President & General Manager, Warner Bros. Digital Labs (WBDL), it was announced today by Craig Hunegs, President, Warner Bros. Digital Networks and President, Business and Strategy, Warner Bros. Television Group.

In her new role, Hirsch will be responsible for leading the strategic vision and day-to-day management of Warner Bros. Digital Labs, the product and technology team that powers WBDN’s portfolio of digital offerings. 

 Hirsch will also oversee DramaFever, the leading destination for TV shows and movies from Korea and feel-good romantic comedies. Based in New York, Hirsch will report to Jay Levine, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Digital Networks.

“I am thrilled that Patty is joining the fast-growing Warner Bros. Digital Networks family,” said Hunegs. “Along with her wealth of knowledge, Patty brings to Warner Bros. Digital Labs a passion for, and commitment to, innovating through technology that will help take this group to new levels of success.”

Hirsch added, “I am unbelievably excited to join Warner Bros. Digital Networks and lead the Digital Labs group. It is a privilege to work with such a talented team to help enhance the existing product offering while furthering plans that will continue to bring Warner Bros closer to the consumer.”

Hirsch will work with Seung Bak, current head of Warner Bros. Digital Labs and CEO of DramaFever, on a multi-week transition plan, after which he’ll leave the company to pursue entrepreneurial projects.

Prior to joining WBDN, Hirsch held various positions focused on launching, growing and monetizing multi-platform digital offerings including SVP, Digital for Time Inc. – overseeing more than 25 digital brands – and GM of their Sports Group. 

Hirsch has also held positions at CBS Interactive, where she was VP & GM Digital Media, responsible for producing, managing and monetizing consumer-facing digital properties and streaming products. 

An accomplished technology media executive, Hirsch also had stints as VP, Digital Media Services for Muze (now Rovi) and as Vice President, Client Services for Synacor. She also served as Director, Broadband Products at Charter Communications.

Hirsch earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado.

About Warner Bros. Digital Networks (WBDN):

Founded in 2016, Warner Bros. Digital Networks is the fast-paced, growing team responsible for building and operating the Studio’s digital entertainment offerings, producing digital native content and harnessing the power of social media through Machinima. 

WBDN’s current direct-to-consumer-centric portfolio includes Boomerang (a partnership with Turner), DramaFever, FilmStruck (a partnership with Turner), Machinima, Stage 13, Uninterrupted (a partnership with LeBron James), Ellen Digital Ventures (a partnership with Ellen DeGeneres) and a DC-branded digital service debuting in 2018. Warner Bros. 

Digital Networks’ premium programming and digital offerings put fans at the center of entertainment, sports, gaming and pop culture, reaching audiences anywhere, across any platform.

Source: Warner Bros.