Gary Ross' The Hunger Games grossed a massive $68.3 million at the Friday box office -- the best opening day ever for a nonsequel and the fifth highest of all time.
Lionsgate's big screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' bestselling young adult novel -- starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth -- is headed for a record-breaking $140 million to $150 million debut, giving Lionsgate its first tentpole franchise.
Friday's performance, which included $19.7 million in Thursday midnight runs, put Hunger Games in the same territory as the Harry Potter and Twilight film series. The final Harry Potter pic holds the record for best opening day gross ($91.1 million), followed by The Twilight Saga: New Moon ($72.7 million), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1 ($71.6 million), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse ($68.5 million) and now Hunger Games.
THE HUNGER GAMES Movie Review-
Hunger Games drew an A CinemaScore overall on Friday night, with those under the age of 25 giving it a glowing A+ and those over the age of 25 an A-.
Part of the movie's strength is that it is appealing to males as well as females, unlike the femme-heavy Twilight franchise, another blockbuster film property based on a young adult book series. Males made up 39 percent of Hunger Games' Friday night audience, while females made 61 percent. It also is playing evenly in terms of age, another boost.
Hunger Games has a strong shot at cracking the top five list of all time-best openings at the domestic box office. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1 currently ranks at No. 5 with a $138.1 million debut
And Hunger Games is certain to post the best opening ever for a non-sequel, as well as the best March opener of all time (Alice in Wonderland is the current record-holder with $116 million).
Hunger Games, produced by Nina Jacobson, is generating big numbers for IMAX theaters, which turned in $1.3 million in Thursday midnight grosses, the best showing for a non-sequel.
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Source-THR
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