Title: ‘The Hunger Games’ Prequel Falls Short of Expectations, While ‘Trolls’ Stays Strong at the Box Office
In the highly anticipated prequel to ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise, Lionsgate’s ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ the film’s opening weekend fell short of initial predictions. Despite expectations of a $50 million opening, the movie earned $19.1 million on Friday, leaving analysts to expect a total opening of $45 million or more at the domestic box office.
‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ brings fans back to the dystopian world of Panem eight years after the last Hunger Games film and 12 years after the release of the first movie. This prequel introduces a new set of characters and explores the earlier events leading up to the popular series.
However, the film received a B+ CinemaScore, the lowest rating of the entire Hunger Games franchise. The majority of the audience on Friday were females, indicating that the film may have missed the mark with its target demographic.
It is worth noting that the original Hunger Games films consistently opened with over $100 million domestically and went on to earn a staggering $2.9 billion globally. With this in mind, the performance of ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ is somewhat disappointing for Lionsgate.
The prequel stars rising talents Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth, alongside renowned actors such as Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis. Francis Lawrence, who directed the previous Hunger Games films, returns to helm this installment.
Stealing the second-place spot at the box office is ‘Trolls Band Together,’ which is expected to open with $30 million. The family-friendly animated film has already amassed success overseas and has received an A CinemaScore, indicating favorable audience responses.
Meanwhile, ‘The Marvels’ is struggling in its second weekend, earning just $9 million to $10 million at the box office. The film is currently in a tight race with ‘Thanksgiving,’ a horror film directed by Eli Roth, which earned $3.8 million on its opening day and caters to a predominantly male audience.
Another noteworthy release is the Oscar hopeful ‘Saltburn,’ which is opening in seven locations and has an impressive per-theater average of $45,400. This indie film showcases the potential to make a splash during awards season.
Looking ahead, upcoming films such as ‘Napoleon’ and ‘Wish’ will also be joining the Thanksgiving holiday table on November 22, vying for the attention of moviegoers during the festive season.
As the box office continues to fluctuate, audiences eagerly await the performance of these films during the competitive holiday period.
