Still hungry for ‘Mockingjay’
‘Hunger Games’ finale retains top spot over newcomers ‘Good Dinosaur’ and ‘Creed.’
Holiday audiences help “The Hunger Games” finale foil all rivals, including two newbies, “The Good Dinosaur” and “Creed.”
Thanksgiving audiences stuffed themselves with helpings of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” at the weekend box office. The finale of the young adult movie series led ticket sales for a second weekend, beating out newcomers “The Good Dinosaur” and “Creed.”
The second installment of the “Mockingjay” arc grossed an estimated $75.8 million in the U.S. and Canada over the five-day holiday break. Although analysts had expected “Mockingjay — Part 2” to fall to second place, the Lionsgate film held onto No. 1 by having the best second weekend hold of any of the four films in the franchise — a decrease of just 50% in ticket sales.
The picture, based on Suzanne Collins’ novels and produced at an estimated budget of $175 million to $200 million, has grossed more than $198 million domestically and more than $440 million worldwide.
Coming in second was “The Good Dinosaur,” Walt Disney Co.’s new Pixar offering. Grossing an estimated $55.7 million, the prehistoric animated feature fell short of projections of more than $60 million.
Nonetheless, “Dinosaur” landed as the fourth-highest five-day Thanksgiving opening in industry history.
“It’s always a good week when we’re putting a Pixar movie into theaters,” said Dave Hollis, Disney’s executive vice president of theatrical sales and distribution. According to audience polling firm Cinema Score, “The Good Dinosaur” received an A grade, tracking well with families, which made up 79% of the audience, and kids under age 12, which constituted 40% of viewers. Critics heavily praised the movie, giving it a positive rating of 81% on the Rotten Tomatoes website.
“Dinosaur” pushed its other key competitor, Fox’s animated “Peanuts Movie,” to fifth place with an estimated $13.6 million. Charlie Brown and Snoopy have grossed $116.8 million domestically since the film’s Nov. 6 launch.
The MGM/New Line Cinema-financed “Creed” rounded out the weekend’s top three with $42.6 million. The $37-million spinoff of the popular “Rocky” franchise from director Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”) beat its $35-million projection.
The other major release, 20th Century Fox’s “Victor Frankenstein,” the latest take on the story of a scientist playing God, was DOA. Starring Daniel Radcliffe of “Harry Potter” fame and James McAvoy, the movie finished significantly lower than projected, with only $3.4 million..