Fandango: 'Furious 7' Crushes April Advance Ticket Sales Record

LOS ANGELES - April 1, 2015 - According to Fandango, the nation's leading moviegoer destination, "Furious 7" is tearing up the record books with the biggest pre-sales for any April release in Fandango history. The highly-anticipated seventh installment in the "Fast and Furious" franchise tops Fandango's Fanticipation movie buzz indicator this week with a smashing 98 out of 100 points -- and is pacing significantly ahead of April 2014's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" at the same point in that film's ticket sales cycle on Fandango. It also represents more than 80% of all Fandango sales this weekend.

"'Furious 7' is leaving the competition in the dust with the hottest ticket sales we've ever seen for an April release," says Fandango Chief Correspondent Dave Karger. "‘Furious 7' is firing on all cylinders. With its exciting, diverse cast and insane action set-pieces - which somehow manage to top the over-the-top stunts from the last ‘Fast and Furious' movie - it's currently pacing to crush the record for the biggest April opening ever."

According to a Fandango survey of more than 1,000 "Furious 7" moviegoers:
· 96% identify themselves as fans of the "Fast and Furious" franchise;

· 95% have been looking forward to the film's over-the-top stunts;

· 89% have seen at least one of the "Fast and Furious" films on the big screen;

· 83% will see the film on opening weekend;

· 67% picked Jason Statham as the new cast member they most wanted to see;

· 65% follow "Furious 7" on social media.

On Fandango's movie recommendation show, "Weekend Ticket," Karger breaks down this weekend's new releases and interviews "Furious 7" stars Michelle Rodriguez and Chris ‘Ludacris' Bridges. The full episode can be found at http://www.fandango.com/WeekendTicket. Fandango Movieclips has put together an epic car mash-up as a tribute to the "Fast and Furious" franchise at http://www.fandango.com/movie-trailer/epiccarmashup-trailer/172963?autoplay=true&mpxId=2661054668.

About Fandango's Fanticipation
Known for having its finger on the pulse of moviegoers, Fandango's movie buzz indicator, Fanticipation, provides statistical insight into the movies fans are planning to see in a given weekend. Fanticipation scores (based on a 1 to 100-point scale) are calculated via an algorithm of Fandango's advance ticket sales, website and mobile traffic, and social media engagement. Fanticipation is not intended as a forecast of the weekend box office; it is a snapshot of movie fan sentiment.