`Lord of the Rings,' `Star Wars' and `Harry Potter' Head Fandango's 2002 Top 10 Best-Seller List; `Two Towers' Becomes Fandango's Best-Selling Film in Company History.

Business/Entertainment Editors

HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 30, 2002

Fourth quarter has been deja vu and then some for the nation's largest remote movie ticketing company, Fandango, Inc. (www.fandango.com). The industry leader reports that this holiday movie season, the "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" franchises not only were again ranked in the company's Top 10 list of best-selling films of the year, listed number one and three respectively with "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" placing second, but both also bested their own record-setting 2001 advance ticket sales figures.

As the holiday season winds down, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" continued to break sales records when it surpassed "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" as the all-time best-selling film in Fandango's three-year history. "Two Towers" had already broken three other Fandango sales records. The company sold nearly $6 million in tickets for the film through its five-day opening weekend, generating more in ticket sales through an opening weekend than did any other release in Fandango's history. This represented approximately 6 percent of the film's domestic opening weekend box office total, breaking Fandango's previous percentage of total box office record by almost a full percentage point. The company also sold more tickets prior to opening day for "The Two Towers" than it did through the entire opening weekend of "Fellowship of the Ring" last year.

Fandango's second place "Star Wars" sold $5.5 million in advance tickets through opening weekend, representing 5 percent of the weekend's total $110 million box office. Total advance tickets for the third best-selling film in Fandango's Top 10, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," reached $4.5 million, representing more than 5 percent of opening weekend box office.

"Spider-Man" came in fourth in the Fandango Top 10 with $3 million in sales for opening weekend, representing 3 percent of the total domestic opening weekend box office, followed by "Austin Powers in Goldmember" with $1.6 million and more than 2 percent of the opening box office. "Die Another Day," which is still ranked in the Fandango Five, is currently at $1 million in advance ticket sales, representing more than 2 percent of the total box office and counting.

"Men in Black II," "8 Mile," "Signs," and "Ice Age" round out Fandango's top 10 for 2002, representing close to $2.5 million in combined sales. Year-end releases debuting too late to make the list, such as "Catch Me If You Can," "Chicago," "The Hours," and "Gangs of New York," are expected to generate impressive holiday numbers that continue the momentum into 2003.

"We got our foot in the door in 2001, and then charged right through it in 2002 to lead the remote movie ticketing industry with the largest number of wired screens and record-breaking sales throughout the year," said Art Levitt, president and CEO of Fandango, Inc. "Our exhibitor partners are flourishing and our cooperative efforts are creating a win-win for all involved -- the studios, the exhibitors and the millions of people who rely on us to make their trip to the theater more convenient and fun. We've changed the way people go to the movies by becoming a part of the moviegoing ritual, and that trend will only continue to grow."

In addition to streamlining entertainment planning by offering advance tickets to the season's hottest films, Fandango has made gift giving easier than ever by providing a one-stop shop for movie-related gifts and merchandise. In the fourth quarter, the company launched Fandango Bucks online entertainment currency, which makes it fast and easy to buy and e-mail "The Gift of Movies." Fandango Bucks are available in $10, $15, $25, $50, and $100 increments and are good for any film at any Fandango-wired theater across the country. Offering the ultimate in flexibility for both the sender and receiver, Fandango Bucks provide a truly "one-size-fits-all" gift idea for anyone who likes to go to the movies. Fandango is also preparing to launch a new service early next year which simplifies planning group trips to the movies.

Furthering the one-stop concept, Fandango partnered with buy.com and started offering film-related merchandise through the Fandango Movie Mall. Fandango visitors can browse and select from more than one million entertainment-related products including music, videos and DVDs. The Fandango Movie Mall also provides access to dedicated "Harry Potter," "James Bond," "Star Trek," and "Lord of the Rings" Specialty Stores.

About Fandango

Fandango is a market leader in remote ticketing for consumers planning a trip to the movies. Fandango's convenient service lets moviegoers quickly select a film, plan where and when to see it, and buy tickets in advance on www.fandango.com and 1-800-555-TELL (say, "Movies."). Fandango offers print-at-home ticketing in 40 cities nationwide and recently launched Fandango Bucks, enabling customers to e-mail the "gift of movies" in the form of entertainment currency good for access to any film showing at any of Fandango's wired theaters across the country. Fandango also offers CDs, DVDs, posters, and restaurant reservations. Fandango's partners include six major North American exhibitors, representing close to 12,300 movie screens: Carmike Theatres, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Loews-Cineplex Entertainment and Regal Cinemas. Utilizing the latest technology, Fandango offers tickets at more than 7,800 screens at more than 640 theaters, nationwide show times, movie reviews and trailers. The company's investors include Accretive Technology Partners and General Atlantic Partners, LLC.