Lionsgate’s prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is projected to have an opening weekend at the domestic box office of over $45 million after impressively earning $19.1 million on Friday, securing the top spot for the weekend. However, it may fall slightly short of initial expectations. Tracking prior to the release had suggested the movie would bring in at least $50 million, as Lionsgate strives to launch a successful spin-off franchise. While the studio is still hopeful for a $50 million performance, rival studios predict a more conservative estimate of between $46 million and $47 million.
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes makes its debut eight years after the last Hunger Games film and 12 years after the first one hit the big screen. Despite lower than anticipated results, the movie received a B+ CinemaScore, marking the lowest score within the franchise. A majority of Friday’s audience was female, comprising 64 percent.
Based on Suzanne Collins’ dystopian YA novels, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes stars Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth, along with a talented cast including Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis. The prequel is helmed by Francis Lawrence, who directed the previous four Hunger Games movies.
The holiday weekend also saw the release of Universal and DreamWorks’ Trolls Band Together and TriStar and Spyglass Media Group’s slasher pic Thanksgiving, directed by Eli Roth. Trolls Band Together earned $9.4 million on Friday, projecting an estimated domestic opening of $30 million, in line with expectations and securing second place for the weekend. The film has been well-received by audiences, earning an A CinemaScore. Trolls Band Together has already made an impact in several international markets, concluding the weekend with a foreign tally of $76.3 million and a global total of $106.3 million.
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Additionally, the highly anticipated superhero movie The Marvels is experiencing a significant drop in its second weekend, projected to fall between 78 and 80 percent. Its estimated earnings of $9 million to $10 million put it in a close race with Thanksgiving, which earned $3.8 million on Friday and is skewing male (56 percent) with a B- CinemaScore.
On the specialty box office front, Oscar hopeful Saltburn opened in seven locations and is set to achieve a promising per-theater average of $45,400. Looking ahead, Apple Original Films and Sony’s Napoleon and Disney Animation’s Wish are set to debut just before the Thanksgiving holiday, offering audiences a diverse array of film choices.
The Hunger Games franchise is no stranger to success, with the four previous films based on Suzanne Collins’ novels raking in over $2.9 billion at the global box office and all opening domestically with over $100 million. However, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes faces the challenge of reviving the franchise after eight years since the last installment. As the holiday season approaches, the box office landscape continues to evolve, with both new releases and established franchises showcasing their resilience and flexibility in the face of changing consumer preferences and viewing habits.
