Not that you're surprised, but the odds are definitely in favor of Lionsgate and the team behind "The Hunger Games." The $78 million-budget adaptation of Suzanne Collins's best-selling YA novel earned at least $25 million from its midnight screenings on early Friday morning, and that number could hit $30 million by the time receipts are counted later today.
UPDATE: According to Lionsgate, "The Hunger Games" earned $19.7 million from its midnight screenings, the seventh biggest debut in reported box-office history. In addition to that, "The Hunger Games" becomes the highest grossing non-sequel to ever premiere at midnight, and -- wait for it -- "the highest IMAX non-summer, non-holiday, 2D opening of all time."
The original story continues below.
That would put "Hunger Games" in the same economic bracket "Breaking Dawn Part 1" occupied last November; the first installment of the "Twilight" finale grossed $30.25 from its midnight screenings, a franchise record. ("Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" owns the overall midnight screening record, with $43.5 million in night-owl ticket sales.)
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Not that you're surprised, but the odds are definitely in favor of Lionsgate and the team behind "The Hunger Games." The $78 million-budget adaptation of Suzanne Collins's best-selling YA novel earned...
Not that you're surprised, but the odds are definitely in favor of Lionsgate and the team behind "The Hunger Games." The $78 million-budget adaptation of Suzanne Collins's best-selling YA novel earned...
Posted: 03/23/2012 8:53 am Updated: 03/23/2012 1:27 pm