“The Hunger Games” may not be able to top the opening weekend record of $169,189,427 by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two,” but the movie has already set a few records of its own. “The Hunger Games” set the record for biggest midnight opening and the biggest opening day for a non-sequel movie.
“The Hunger Games” took in $19.7 million when it opened at midnight on Thursday night. At the end of Friday, the movie had grossed $68.3 million. Both totals are new records for non-sequel movies.
According to Box Office Mojo , “The Hunger Games” had the fifth best opening day in movie history, behind “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two,” and the “Twilight” sequels.
“The Hunger Games” one day haul of $68 million puts it just outside of the top 50 for best opening weekend. The movie is expected to bring in big ticket sales today and the Lionsgate film is projected to bring in a total of $120 million, which would place it in the top 10.
The majority of critics have been happy with the movie (it currently has an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) but Gary Ross at Film Town writes that you shouldn’t judge this movie by its box office collections.
“It is bizarre fact of our times that a film makes its first $100 million in pre-sales of tickets, even before it has released. Indeed, in the opening midnight screening a day before the release itself, the film grossed close to $20 million. Both these feats are unprecedented for any film. Sadly, one cannot say any such good things about the film itself. And one is compelled to add, don’t judge a film by its box office collections.”
Have you seen “The Hunger Games?”