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PEOPLE & ARTSMonday 23 November 2015
Last ‘Hunger Games’
opens to franchise low
of $101 million
This photo provided by Lionsgate shows, Liam Hemsworth, left, as Gale Hawthorne, Sam Clafin, LINDSEY BAHR “If we live in a world where
AP Film Writer a $100 million opening is
back left, as Finnick Odair, Evan Ross, back right, as Messalia, and Jennifer Lawrence, right, as LOS ANGELES (AP) — a disappointment, that’s
“Mockingjay — Part 2,” the pretty crazy,” he said
Katniss Everdeen, in the film, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.” Associated Press final “Hunger Games” film, Only 34 movies in history
soared to a $101 million have opened at over $100
opening in its first weekend million, including all four in
in theaters, according to “The Hunger Games” se-
Rentrak estimates Sunday. ries.
For most films, the figure Dergarabedian attributes
would be a coup, but the showing to a down
the latest chapter of “The marketplace. Just two
Hunger Games” collected weekends ago, “Spectre,”
the lowest opening take which fell to second place
among the four films in the this week with $14.6 mil-
series. lion, failed to live up to the
The series starring Jenni- domestic opening of “Sky-
fer Lawrence kicked off fall,” the previous James
with a bang in March 2012 Bond film.
with a massive $152.5 mil- “Thanksgiving represents a
lion weekend — one of good opportunity for a re-
the highest openings of all ally strong second week-
time. end,” Dergarabedian said
“Catching Fire,” the sec- of “Mockingjay — Part 2.”
ond film in the franchise, With $12.8 million, “The
one-upped that with a Peanuts Movie” finished
$158.1 million debut in No- behind “Spectre” and
vember 2013. ahead of the Seth Rogen
Lionsgate split the final holiday comedy “The Night
book in Suzanne Collins’ Before,” which earned an
trilogy into two films, follow- expected $10.1 million. The
ing the precedent of “Twi- R-rated film cost about $25
light” and “Harry Potter.” million to produce.
“Mockingjay — Part 1” “This is a movie that peo-
opened on this weekend ple love. Opening early
last year to $121.9 million, seemed like a really good
considered at the time prelude to the Thanksgiv-
to be a necessary and ing weekend where it will
expected dip while fans expand beautifully,” said
awaited the final install- Rory Bruer, Sony’s president
ment, which, if it had mim- of worldwide distribution.
icked “Twilight” or “Harry “It’s a good start for us.”
Potter,” would have snared The Julia Roberts thriller
at least the second-highest “The Secret in Their Eyes,” a
(if not highest) opening in remake of the Oscar-win-
the series. ning Argentinian film, de-
The franchise low for the buted wide this weekend
final “Hunger Games” film, to $6.6 million from 2,392
which cost a reported $160 locations — slightly under
million to make, was a bit expectations.
of a surprise. Lionsgate, With the weekend box of-
however, was not disap- fice down 11 percent from
pointed. last year, it remains to be
“It’s a great accomplish- seen whether 2015 will in-
ment. The overall franchise deed become a record-
has grossed over $2 billion breaking $11 billion year
worldwide and counting,” as many predicted at the
said David Spitz, co-presi- outset. Box office is up 4.2
dent of theatrical distribu- percent from last year, but
tion for Lionsgate. “It’s a 2013 is the year to beat —
pretty phenomenal result.” and this year is tracking less
Expectations run high than 1 percent ahead of
when films become so that.
popular and successful in “We’re in the home
such a short a time, said stretch,” Dergarabedian
Paul Dergarabedian, a se- said. “But remember, we
nior media analyst for Ren- have a little secret weap-
trak. on in ‘Star Wars.’”q
