However, the final episode of the Jennifer Lawrence-led dystopian saga was down 17% on Mockingjay – Part 1’s $121.9m opening a year ago, and a full 36% on Catching Fire’s $158m bow in 2013.
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And since the “Games” movies debuted in 2012, they’ve done so well at the box office that they’ve increased expectations for themselves. While the first two Hunger Games films enjoyed sky-high popularity, the last two have been less successful. It has now grossed $5.8 million before going wide. Overall, the initial reviews appeared to be more positive than those for Part 1. “Mockingjay – Part 2” could be a champion over the next few weeks and, if it grosses enough, perhaps meet or even surpass the grosses of previous “Games” movies.
Lionsgate split the final book in Suzanne Collins’ trilogy into two films, following the precedent of Twilight and Harry Potter. For the last eight consecutive years, three franchises have dominated year in and year out.
Katniss didn’t have the weekend to herself, either. A similar road for the new installment would put it on course to end in the $270-280M neighborhood.
According to The Wrap, while Lawrence’s film “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” managed to strongly ascend its aim with a$46 million on November 20, it had missed to hit the projected weekend total of $120 million.
The series made up a few ground overseas, picking up $147 million after debuting in almost every significant foreign territory, including China.
For more updates, stay tuned with us.
The Seth Rogan, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Anthony Mackie starrer The Night Before opened with a $10 million weekend. STX’s “The Secret in Their Eyes” pulled in $2.3 million Friday night, a soft opening despite the star power of Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The remake of an Oscar-winning Argentinian thriller of the same name earned a disappointing $6.6 million for a fifth place finish. Appeal was limited to mature women who had better options.
However, the “Games” series has a good history of holding on at the box office.
Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight made a major push in its 3rd weekend, expanding into a total of 599 theaters and moving into the Top 10 chart with an estimated $3.6-M for a domestic box office total of $5.8-M. Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies clung to the top ten in its sixth round with an estimated $1.9M, down 54%, putting Disney at $65.2M.
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Mockingjay Part 2, the final Hunger Games film, has shot to number one at the North American box office on its opening weekend, taking $101m (£66.6m).
