Hollywood Reporter: Lionsgate Extends Helen Lee-Kim’s Contract in International Motion Picture Group

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Lionsgate has inked a new long-term contract extension for Helen Lee-Kim as president, international in the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

Since rejoining the Hollywood studio in late 2017 as a longtime lieutenant to Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake, Lee-Kim has generated nearly $1 billion in sales and will continue to head the international licensing of Lionsgate’s first-run movies and handle sales to expanding multi-platform and global direct-to-streaming business.

“Helen is a superstar whose success in growing the John Wick and Saw franchises worldwide is just the latest example of her ability to grow the studio’s stature as a top supplier of premium first-run films,” Drake said in a statement on Thursday.

Lee-Kim and her team saw John Wick: Chapter Four generate a franchise-best $440 million at the global box office, including nearly $253 million at the international box office. She also closed deals with international buyers for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and the John Wick action spinoff Ballerina.

Lionsgate also lauded recent alternative distribution strategies for tentpoles with multi-platform and global direct-to-streaming releases that sent Shotgun Wedding to Amazon, Love at First Sight to Netflix and Puppy Love to Amazon/Freevee, even as theatrical remains the backbone of the studio’s movie release strategy.

The contract extension for Lee-Kim follows new long-term agreements for International Motion Picture Group COO Michael Meyer and executive vp of international marketing Brent Jack.

Lee-Kim earlier was president of International at Lionsgate from 2007 to 2012, and she also worked with Drake and Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Nathan Kahane at Good Universe and Mandate Pictures. After Lionsgate bought Mandate, Lee-Kim handled international sales on The Hunger Games and the Saw franchise, among other titles.