Weekend Box Office: Mockingjay Part 2 Holds First Place For Thanksgiving Holiday

To date, the “Hunger Games” film franchise has earned $2.7 billion worldwide, Time magazine reported.

One minor note of a film far outside the top five: The Danish Girl did very well, opening to $185,000 in only four theaters this weekend. The final installment in Lionsgate’s (NYSE:LGF) film franchise continues to pace behind The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which earned $82.7-M over Thanksgiving in Y 2014, but is pulling in huge numbers.

But those films still found their footing.

Disney’s “The Good Dinosaur” opened in second place, with 55.6 million dollars in five-night sales and 39.2 million dollars in three-day frame.

“Hunger Games” is still No. 1 at the holiday box office and fended off newcomers: Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur” and “Creed”, the latest “Rocky” film. “Part 2” took first place, while “The Good Dinosaur” and “Creed” grabbed second and third, respectively.

The film received rave notices, as well as acclaim for director Ryan Coogler, including 93 percent positive reviews at Rottentomatoes.com.

Since the millennium turned, 33 films have opened over Thanksgiving weekend, and 13 of those films opened to less than $14 million – some of them much, much less. Grossing an estimated $56 million, the prehistoric animated feature fell short of projections of more than $60 million in ticket sales.

“Part 2” led a crowded field of contenders, topping charts with $75.8 million and bringing its domestic total to $198.3 million. The Rocky films have never opened to more than $20 million, but have always had legs, making this is a solid choice for a Thanksgiving turn. The Rocky spin-off Creed has made $42 million since debuting on Wednesday, and was able to pass the lifetime gross of Rocky V in the process. “Spotlight” remained in eighth with $4.4 million, while “Brooklyn”, which follows a young Irish immigrant in America, went from twelfth to ninth with $3.8 million.

Spectre was able to top $175 million domestically with $12.8 million and a 4 place finish this weekend.

Next weekend sees the box office quiet down a little as the Universal horror-comedy Krampus is the sole wide opener of the weekend. Mockingjay Part 2 also brought in $62 million internationally over the three-day weekend, bringing its global total to $440.7 million.