HUNGER GAMES $155 million, Biggest Non-Sequel Opening Ever

[AndyDursin]

I had no interest in TWILIGHT but the premise of THE HUNGER GAMES (Running Man for teens?) seems more interesting...plus I love Jennifer Lawrence...and this seems to be getting much better reviews than any of the Twilight flicks.

Either way, the book fans are going to push this into record territory it looks like. I'll update the board as we get numbers through the weekend, but it seems the appeal is wider than the girl-dominated Twilight series too, which will help:

Latest from DHD --

Rival movie studios looking at early matinee grosses (which are dominated by pre-sales) tell me that Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games may beat the most recent Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part One opening weekend gross of $138 million. That would be an extraordinary result since this is only the first in The Hunger Games franchise trilogy. “Early matinees are in the world where The Hunger Games will give Twilight a run for their money,” one mogul tells me. “It’s doing spectacularly.

Unlike Twilight, it’s attracting both boys and girls as a 3-quadrant movie. And the heat of it from the teens and tweens is making adults start to get interested as well. Older audiences are turning up to make it a 4-quadrant film.”

[Monterey Jack]

The Hunger Games is good, and attempts to sell it as "The new Twilight" are unfortunate.

[AndyDursin]

The Hunger Games is good, and attempts to sell it as "The new Twilight" are unfortunate.

Agreed, though it doesn't seem to be hurting it though...looks like that crossover audience is there by the looks of the demographic breakdown. I mean, if you can get ADULTS in there that's a good sign

Looks like the biggest sin of the film is that its (apparently) way, way overlong.

[Monterey Jack]

Looks like the biggest sin of the film is that its (apparently) way, way overlong.

I have no problem with the length or pacing (it zips right along), but I did have a problem with the jittery Jason Bourne-cam. Hard to believe Gary Ross had Steven Soderbergh handling the second-unit directing, and the footage still turned out so incomprehensible. I know they needed to get a PG-13, but there should have been ways to "disguise" the worst of the violence through precise camera angles and tight editing without resorting to the kind of hideous camerawork I detest in modern-day cinema.

[AndyDursin]

That's funny because the running time is usually the first thing you mention! I've seen at least three reviews refer to it as The Slumber Games.

[Monterey Jack]

That's funny because the running time is usually the first thing you mention! I've seen at least three reviews refer to it as The Slumber Games.

Maybe it didn't bother me because I already knew the story by reading the book, so I could estimate how much time was left in the movie. The first half has a few exposition-heavy patches, but once the Games start, it keeps moving at a good clip. I know I complain about bloated running times a lot, but it usually bothers me the most when it's a really bad movie (why is evry Michael Bay movie at least 2 1/2 hours long, especially considering his obvious ADD issues?).

[AndyDursin]

"This is the highest non-sequel opening weekend ever, and the highest debut single day for a non-sequel ever, and the highest March opening ever, and the 5th highest opening day ever."

1. The Hunger Games (Lionsgate) NEW [4,137 Theaters] PG13-rated
Est Friday $68.2M, Est Weekend $140.0M

2. 21 Jump Street (Sony) Week 2 [3,121 Theaters] R-rated
Est Friday $6.4M, Est Weekend $20.0M (-52%), Est Cume $70.0M

3. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (Universal) Week 4 [3,677 Theaters] PG-rated
Est Friday $3.2M, Est Weekend $13.0M, Est Cume $175.0M

4. John Carter (Disney) Week 3 [3,212 Theaters) PG13-rated
Est Friday $1.5M, Est Weekend $5.5M, Est Cume $63.0M

5. Project X (Warner Bros) Week 4 [2,065 Theaters] R-rated
Est Friday $700K, Est Weekend $1.8M, Est Cume $51.6M

6. October Baby (IDP/SGF) NEW [398 Theaters] PG13-rated
Est Friday $600K, Est Weekend $1.8M

7. Act Of Valor (Relativity) Week 5 [2,219 Theaters] R-rated
Est Friday $550K, Est Weekend $1.9M, Est Cume $65.8M

8. A Thousand Words (DWorks/Par) Week 3 [1,787 Theaters] PG13-rated
Est Friday $500K, Est Weekend $1.7M, Est Cume $14.8M

9. Safe House (Universal) Week 7 [1,330 Theaters] R-rated
Est Friday $475K, Est Weekend $1.5M, Est Cume $122.8M

10. Journey 2 (Warner Bros) Week 7 [1,340 Theaters] PG-rated
Est Friday $400K, Est Weekend $1.3M, Est Cume $97.0M

[Paul MacLean]

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I wasn't even sure what The Hunger Games was before the film was released (I was confusing it with that vampire show on HBO...or is it Showtime?)!

[Mike Rhonemus]

I had no interest in TWILIGHT but the premise of THE HUNGER GAMES (Running Man for teens?) seems more interesting...plus I love Jennifer Lawrence...and this seems to be getting much better reviews than any of the Twilight flicks.

I knew nothing about the books, but my kids and wife wanted to see the movie, so I did tag along. I had read this thread until now. As we were walking out of the theater, my son asked me what I thought and I told him it was "RUNNING MAN with kids". He laughed, but not as hard as he did when I showed him your post Andy!!! My problems with the movie was the outfits and hairdos that the city people where wearing. That was a film killer. Woody Harrelson, really? That finished off the movie for me! 2 of of 5 stars!

[AndyDursin]

I had no interest in TWILIGHT but the premise of THE HUNGER GAMES (Running Man for teens?) seems more interesting...plus I love Jennifer Lawrence...and this seems to be getting much better reviews than any of the Twilight flicks.

I knew nothing about the books, but my kids and wife wanted to see the movie, so I did tag along. I had read this thread until now. As we were walking out of the theater, my son asked me what I thought and I told him it was "RUNNING MAN with kids". He laughed, but not as hard as he did when I showed him your post Andy!!! My problems with the movie was the outfits and hairdos that the city people where wearing. That was a film killer. Woody Harrelson, really? That finished off the movie for me! 2 of of 5 stars!

lol. Great minds think alike Mike!

[AndyDursin]

Wow. $150+ million opening is:

-Best non-sequel opening of all-time
-3rd Highest Grossing Weekend (3-day) of all-time
-No 3-D or Imax goosing involved, making it more impressive

Revised numbers:

1. The Hunger Games (Lionsgate) NEW [4,137 Theaters] PG13-rated
Friday $68M, Saturday $51.0M, Weekend $155.0M
International $59.25M, Worldwide $214.25

2. 21 Jump Street (Sony) Week 2 [3,121 Theaters] R-rated
Friday $6.2M (-53%), Saturday $9M, Weekend $21.3M (-41%), Cume $71M

3. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax 3D (Universal) Week 4 [3,677 Theaters] PG-rated
Friday $3.2M, Saturday $6.4M, Weekend $13.1M, Cume $177.3M

4. John Carter 3D (Disney) Week 3 [3,212 Theaters) PG13-rated
Friday $1.3M, Saturday $2.3M, Weekend $5.0M, Cume $62.3M
International $, Worldwide $234.4M

5. Act Of Valor (Relativity) Week 5 [2,219 Theaters] R-rated
Friday $560K, Saturday $935K, Weekend $2.0M, Cume $65.9M

6. Project X (Warner Bros) Week 4 [2,065 Theaters] R-rated
Friday $625K, Saturday $850K, Weekend $1.9M, Cume $51.7M

7. A Thousand Words (DWorks/Par) Week 3 [1,787 Theaters] PG13-rated
Friday $525K, Saturday $915K, Weekend $1.9M, Cume $14.9M

8. October Baby (Provident/Goldwyn) NEW [398 Theaters] PG13-rated
Friday $595K, Saturday $665K, Weekend $1.8M

9. Safe House (Universal) Week 7 [1,330 Theaters] R-rated
Friday $392K, Saturday $710K, Weekend $1.5M, Cume $122.7M

10. Journey 2 (Warner Bros) Week 7 [1,340 Theaters] PG-rated
Friday $310K, Saturday $655K, Weekend $1.4M, Cume $97.2M