Lionsgate Motion Picture Group executive Helen Lee-Kim has inked a new long-term deal as President, International.
The news comes before Lionsgate takes over the world this holiday season with the highly anticipated prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes on Nov. 17, which was cleared for a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement; one of the few Hollywood tentpoles this fall season permitted to have its cast promote.
“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,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake. “She is a trusted partner, a great leader and an extraordinary sales executive who will continue to play a key role in moving the Company forward.”
Lee-Kim has been key in Lionsgate yielding $1 billion in sales since re-joining the studio in December 2017. She will continue to head the international licensing of Lionsgate’s diversified slate of first-run movies ranging from tent-poles to targeted demo genre pics as well as shepherd the studio’s fast growing multi-platform and global direct-to-to-streaming business.
Most recently, Lee-Kim and her team propelled John Wick: Chapter Four to a franchise-best $440M global take with nearly $253M in overseas B.O., 62% higher than John Wick Chapter 3; and Saw X, which is fast approaching $100M worldwide and still opening abroad. She successfully closed deals with blue-chip international partners on key Lionsgate properties including: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and 2024’s John Wick action spinoff Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas and directed by Len Wiseman.
Lee-Kim and her team are also behind a slew of multi-platform and direct-to-streaming releases including Shotgun Wedding to Amazon, Love at First Sight to Netflix from the ACE Entertainment partnership, and Puppy Love to Amazon/Freeve from the Buzzfeed collaboration.
Lee-Kim previously served as President of International at Lionsgate from 2007-2012. She also worked with Drake and Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President Nathan Kahane at Good Universe (2012-2017) and Mandate Pictures (2003-2007). She is an AMPAS member and serves on the Board of Directors for Korean-American Leaders in Hollywood (KALH), dedicated to creating a network of industry leaders and empowering Korean-Americans to advance Asian-American interests in film, television and streaming media.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group also announced new long-term agreements for two senior members of Lee-Kim’s team: International Motion Picture Group COO Michael Meyer and longtime MPG EVP of International Marketing Brent Jack.