Angry Birds, from Mobile Application to #1 Movie in America

Rovio Entertainment Ltd.

Angry Birds started as a simple mobile application video game that launched in 2009; where the user launches birds at structures with pigs in order to knock them down and score points. After having several spin off special edition games, including three based off popular movies (Star Wars, Transformers, and Rio, Angry Birds finally starred in a movie themselves. The film was produced by Sony Pictures animation department for around $73 million. After its first weekend opening the Angry Birds movie sits at the top of the box office with $39 million from the U.S. market alone (Graham, 2016).

Open #AngryBirdsAction when the #AngryBirdsMovie end credits roll and cast some #MovieMagic! https://t.co/8xTA4dKrwl pic.twitter.com/TXHztJ0u7Z

— Angry Birds (@AngryBirds) May 23, 2016

Rovio the company that created the original Angry Birds application is also promoting their new game Angry Birds Action by offering exclusive content if you have the application open during the end credits of the movie. The exclusive content includes a bonus movie scene and extra levels in the new game (2016, Summers). Apparently this is not the only real world interactivity the game has Rovio has also partnered with LEGO to feature QR codes in their Angry Birds playsets; Along with McDonald and their QR codes on their Happy Meals that unlock an additional “Whack-a-Pig” game (2016, Summers). This is a clear example of just how far pop culture can take a simple product like the Angry Birds game and make it explode into a wide array of industries. After six years and over three billion downloads since the first launch, one is wondering when will the Angry Birds every stop soaring (Robertson, 2015).

References:

Graham, Luke. (2016, May 22). ‘Angry Birds’ movie catapults to top of box office. CNBC. Retrieved from: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/23/angry-birds-movie-catapults-to-top-of-box-office.html

Robertson, Andy. (2015, July 16). 'Angry Birds 2' Arrives 6 Years And 3 Billion Downloads After First Game. Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/andyrobertson/2015/07/16/angry-birds-2/#ba5650720844

Rovio Entertainment Ltd. (2015, March 10). Retrieved from: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/angry-birds-free/id409807569?mt=8

Summers, Nick. (2016, April 28). 'The Angry Birds Movie' credits will unlock game content. Engadget. Retrieved from: http://www.engadget.com/2016/04/28/angry-birds-action-movie-unlock/