‘Hunger Games’ opening at midnight

The movie: "The Hunger Games"

When: Opens at midnight at local theaters; in IMAX at selected theaters

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson

Director: Gary Ross

The story: In a dystopian, not-too-distant future, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the title must-see-TV contest, in which 24 young participants battle to the death.

The buzz: The first cinematic chapter based on Suzanne Collins' best-selling trilogy is on track to break all sorts of box-office records, in part thanks to higher-priced "IMAX Experience" tickets. And if that's not enough to bring fans to theaters, there's also the tantalizing prospect of a first look at the teaser trailer for another hot ticket: the climactic fourth chapter in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2," which doesn't hit theaters until mid-November.

-- CAROL CLING