“Mockingjay-Part 2” has some great performances from Sutherland, Moore, Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) and Woody Harrelson.
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Part 2, the final film in the series, we can all sense more or less what’s coming, because even the “surprises” unfold with grinding inevitability.
What’s next for Jennifer Lawrence and her co-stars now? Lawrence portrays main character Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a dystopian world with an oppressive government.
But despite the less-than-stellar box office this weekend, the gamble has still paid off financially.
The Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen crude Christmas comedy ‘The Night Before’ kicked off its opening weekend with a so-so $10.1 million.
It grossed another $147 million overseas.
The Jonathan Levine-directed film received an A-minus from CinemaScore and 64 percent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The Weinstein Company is set to expand the limited release next weekend and take the movie nationwide in the following weeks. Of course, but an opening weekend of over $100 million is still nothing to cry home about. But movie studios like to see their movie openings build on one another as time goes on.
Alas, while watching Mockingjay – Part 2, my curiosity and excitement tapered, and even though this fourth and final chapter isn’t exactly a letdown, it’s also not as compelling as its predecessors. “Opening early seemed like a really good prelude to the Thanksgiving weekend where it will expand beautifully”, said Rory Bruer, Sony’s president of worldwide distribution.
In addition, movies continue to gross stratospheric amounts. The original ‘Hunger Games’ premiered to a massive $152.5 million in 2012.
Since Part 1 came out last November, we’ve seen Avengers re-assemble, dinosaurs terrorize yet another theme park, found out emotions can be adorable and built eager anticipation for a return to a galaxy far, far away.
The weakness of the new films allowed holdovers “Spectre” and “The Peanuts Movie” to pad their box office results.
The movie, which broke box office records over the summer, was Walker’s final film and ultimately became a kind of send-off to him. It grossed a slim $6.6 million.
Lionsgate split the final book in Suzanne Collins’ trilogy into two films, following the precedent of “Twilight” and “Harry Potter“.
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Overall, Mockingjay Part 2 provides an impressive and satisfying ending to another one of Hollywood’s most beloved franchises, one that critics and fans alike will be pleased with as it delivers both action-packed thrills and emotional depths.
