Cover of The Hunger GamesTHE HUNGER GAMES took in a record-breaking $19.7 million in midnight showings early Friday morning.
The much anticipated LIONSGATE film rung up those impressive numbers playing across 2,565 screens making it the seventh biggest midnight debut of all time. HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2 holds the record for midnight openings. Last year the final installment of the boy wizard's tale took in $43.5 million in midnight showings across 3,800 screens.
THE HUNGER GAMES is expected to take in $130 million over this weekend. If it does that it will become the biggest March opening in history. Currently, ALICE IN WONDERLAND starring JOHNNY DEPP holds that title, opened to more then $116 million in 2010. The film also falls short of the $30.2 million midnight opening TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN, PART ONE took in last year screening across 3,521 locations.
THE HUNGER GAMES, based on the novels by SUZANNE COLLINS, revolves around a group of children who are selected to participate in a televised battle to the death. JENNIFER LAWRENCE, JOSH HUTCHERSON and LIAM HEMSWORTH star in the film directed by GARY ROSS.
The film cost $80 million to produce and it expands today 4,137 locations as it looks to overtake ALICE IN WONDERLANDS March 2010 opening of $116 million. If THE HUNGER GAMES collects the $130 million everyone expects it to make LIONSGATE will become a major distributor in the Hollywood Film market.
