Exhibit 5.1
June 26, 2007 | Of Counsel The Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau, P.C., Q.C. (1984-2000)† The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, P.C., Q.C. The Honourable Donald J. Johnston, P.C., Q.C. (1974-1996) Pierre Marc Johnson, F.S.R.C. The Honourable John W. Morden André Bureau, O.C. Pierre C. Lemoine |
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
2700 Colorado Avenue, Suite 200
Santa Monica, CA 90404
USA
Dear Sir or Madam:
Roderick W. Kirkham
T 604 891.1159
F 604 669.5101
rkirkham@heenan.ca
1055 West Hastings Street
Suite 2200
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6E 2E9
www.heenanblaikie.com
Re: Registration of Securities of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) onForm S-3 of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., a company recognized under the laws of British Columbia (the “Company”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of an indeterminate number of common shares of the Company as may from time to time be sold by the selling securityholders to be named under the heading “Selling Securityholders” in any accompanying prospectus supplement (the “Shares”).
We are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and such Shares referred to in an accompanying prospectus supplement will, as of the date of the prospectus supplement, be validly issued fully paid and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference of this firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement.
Yours truly,
Heenan Blaikiellp
Roderick W. Kirkham
Law Corporation
RWK/mm