Source: AFP
The “Hunger Games” prequel remained at the top of the North American box office over the long U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, fending off the onslaught of Ridley Scott’s new film “Napoleon,” industry tracker Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. .
Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is estimated to have earned an estimated $42 million Wednesday through Sunday — boosted by Thanksgiving moviegoers — and $28.8 million for the usual period from Friday to Sunday.
This fifth installment in the “Hunger Games” series stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler and Peter Dinklage in a story about the 10th Hunger Games in the dystopian state of Panem.
In second place was Sony’s latest take on the “Napoleon” epic, with $32.5 million in ticket sales over the five-day weekend and $20.4 million over three days.
“This is a good opening for an epic period action adventure,” said analyst David A. Gross, who noted director Ridley Scott’s “pedigree” and strong leads in Joaquin Phoenix, as the French emperor, and Vanessa Kirby, as Empress Josephine. .
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The European setting should help the film “overseas,” Gross said. But the film had a “huge” production budget of $200 million, he noted, and received lukewarm reviews, with many French critics decrying historical inaccuracies.
Disney, meanwhile, didn’t exactly get their “Wish” with the release of the lavish animation of that name. It took in $31.7 million over five days and $19.5 million over three, which Gross said was about half of what similar films had earned in the past.
“The race is real for the $200 million animated film and for the Magic Kingdom itself,” Exhibitor Relations said on X, formerly Twitter.
“Wish” follows another disappointing opening for Disney. “The Marvels” recently saw the studio’s lowest-ever debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
With the voices of Oscar winner Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, “Wish” tells the story of King Magnifico, who from his island kingdom grants one wish a month.
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In fourth, down two spots from last weekend, was Universal’s animated musical comedy “Trolls Band Together.” Led by voice actors Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, it sold $25.3 million in tickets over five days and $17.6 million over three.
And in fifth was Sony’s slasher film “Thanksgiving,” with $11 million over five days and $7.2 million over three. Starring Patrick Dempsey and Addison Rae.
The top 10 were completed by:
“The Marvels” ($9.2 million over five days, $6.4 million over three)
“The Holdovers” ($3.8 million, $2.8 million)
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” ($2.3 million — playing in theaters Thursday through Sunday only)
“Five Nights at Freddy’s” ($2.4 million, $1.8 million)
“Saltburn” ($2 million, $1.8 million)
Source: AFP