‘Hunger Games’ puts up $61.1M fight
Tops box office for second week despite 60% drop from debut
The Hunger Games devoured the competition at theaters over the weekend, though it didn’t have nearly the appetite it did last week.
The film dropped 60% from its monstrous debut, taking in $61.1 million and topping the box office, according to studio estimates from Hollywood.com. The best-seller adaptation became the fifth-fastest film to reach $200 million by taking in $251 million in 10 days.
Gitesh Pandya of Boxoffice guru.com notes that The Hunger Games lost hundreds of IMAX screens to the action film Wrath of the Titans, which forced it to rely on conventional screens and loyal fans.
“Overall buzz from fans is very positive,” he says. “This property lends itself well to repeat business.”
Tim Briody of Boxoffice prophets.com says that “on the surface, it feels like an extreme nosedive” from last weekend’s debut of $152.5 million. “But keep in mind we’re still dealing with the third-largest opening of all time. The drop was bound to be high.”
Still, The Hunger Games easily outdistanced Titans, the sequel to 2010’s sword-and-sandals picture. Wrath opened with $34.2 million, about $5 million higher than analysts projected. The original opened to $61 million.
The first of two Snow White tales in 2012, Julia Roberts’ Mirror Mirror, also eclipsed most projections. It brought in $19 million for third place.
The comedy 21 Jump Street took fourth place with $15 million, and Dr. Seuss’
The Lorax rounded out the top five with $8 million this weekend. The cartoon has earned $189.6 million. Final figures are due today.
Ticket sales continue their brisk pace. Revenue is up 20% over the same period in 2011, and attendance is up 23% over last year, according to Hollywood.com.