A new prequel to The Hunger Games has just hit theaters. And, much like the other films, the odds at the box office are ever in its favor.
Based on the novel by Hunger Games scribe Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes took in $19.1 million on Friday, putting it on track for a $45 million opening weekend. According to the Hollywood Reporter, early estimates for the film tracked it at about $50 million for the weekend, and other studios would mark it to land between $46 and $47 million this weekend.
The original four films, which starred Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, pulled in upwards of $100 million upon their opening weekend.
While the games have begun for Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, Thanksgiving weekend is opening with a few more strong contenders. Trolls: Band Together kicked off to $9.4 million on Friday, putting it on track for an opening of around $30 million.
The third of the Trolls film brings Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake back into the fold and has already made a good splash at the box office ahead of this weekend. It’s taken in about $76.3 million overseas, which means it’ll end up with $106.3 million for a global total by the end of this weekend.
The Marvels could pull up third, suffering the worst second-weekend drop-off ever for an MCU film. It’s looking to drop from 78 to 80%, only looking to earn about $9 million this weekend.
Its box office struggles put it in a neck-and-neck race with the horror flick Thanksgiving from Eli Roth. The holiday slasher made $3.8 million on Friday, giving it a fair chance against The Marvels, despite some studios estimating the new Superhero flick to come out on top.
For further box office updates, stay with us here.
Update: Deadline’s Reported Ranking:
1.) Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (LG) 3-day $44M/Wk 1
2.) Trolls Band Together (Uni/DWA) 3-day $30.6M/Total $31.7M
3.) The Marvels (Dis) 3-day $10.2M (-78%) Total $65M/Wk 2
4.) Thanksgiving (Sony) 3-day $10.2M/Wk 1
5.) Five Nights at Freddy’s (Uni) 3-day $3.5M (-61%), Total $132.6M/Wk 4
6.) The Holdovers (Foc) 3-day $2.7M (-16%), Total $8.35M/Wk 4
7.) Next Goal Wins (Sea) 3-day $2.5M/Wk 1
8.) Taylor Swift: Eras Tour (AMC) 3-day $2.4M (-61%)/Total $175.3M/ Wk 6
9.) Priscilla (A24) 3-day $2.32M (-50%), Total $16.98M/Wk 4
10.) Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple/Par) 3-day $1.92M (-58%)/Total $63.5M/Wk 5