The Hunger Games and Bridesmaids will battle for the upcoming MTV Movie Awards as each landed eight nominations to edge out The Twilight Saga, which picked up only two nods for the widely-watched TV programme.

Post-apocalyptic action film The Hunger Games, which has stormed box offices with $600 million (€455 million) in ticket sales, earned nods for movie of the year and best cast. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth landed in the best actress, actor and breakthrough performance categories, respectively.

Not to be outdone in the hunt for MTV’s golden box of popcorn trophy, female-led comedy Bridesmaids picked up nominations for movie of the year and best cast while the film’s writer and star Kristen Wiig scored best actress and best comedic performance nods.

Ms Lawrence and Ms Wiig will be up against Emma Stone, Emma Watson and Rooney Mara for best actress, while Mr Hutcherson will be competing with Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ryan Gosling for best actor.

Joining Hunger Games and Bridesmaids in the best movie race is civil-rights drama The Help, the final instalment of the Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn − Part 1.

The Twilight Saga picked up only one other nod in the best kiss category for stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. The MTV Movie Awards, which this year take place in Los Angeles on June 3, annually are among the youth-oriented cable TV channel’s most-watched programmes.

Unlike film awards from industry and critics groups, the MTV show offers irreverent categories like best kiss and best fight.

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