Weekend box office: Hunger Games dominates despite weakest opening in the series
I wouldn’t call THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2 (click the link to read our review) opening with over $100 million at the weekend box office disappointing, but that’s the world The Hunger Games franchise has created. It took in a good $20 million less than Part 1, which took in about $38 million less than Catching Fire. We could argue that splitting up the final chapter of a series leads to lesser movies (it does), but when you make an extra $300 million, no studio executive will care. The other new movies of the weekend struggled, with THE NIGHT BEFORE (click the link to read our review) barely cracking $10 million. SECRET IN THEIR EYES and SPOTLIGHT didn’t do well either, but I’m sure both of them are hoping for a boost come awards season.
Next week should be a very interesting weekend. Normally, I’d say don’t bet against The Hunger Games, even in its second weekend, but it will have some pretty steep competition next week. First up is Pixar’s second movie of 2015, THE GOOD DINOSAUR. The only other kids movie at the box office is THE PEANUTS MOVIE, which has probably run its course, so I’m betting on THE GOOD DINOSAUR to take the top spot. But don’t count out CREED, which not only is catering to the sports movie fans, but also the critical crowd as a possible Oscar contender. Then there’s VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN, which might get the award for worse timed release. Yes, it stars James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, but it has virtually no chance of getting seen on a Thanksgiving weekend. Also, don’t count out THE DANISH GIRL, which has some good buzz going for it and should be something the Oscar chasers want to catch. Note: the numbers below will be updated as they become final.
1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 $104m
2. Spectre $14.3m
3. The Peanuts Movie $12.6m
4. The Night Before $10m
5. Secret in Their Eyes $6.9m
6. Love the Coopers $3.9m
7. The Martian $3.6m
8. Spotlight $3.4m
9. The 33 $2.3m
10. Bridge of Spies $1.9m
(Deadline)
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