#BOXOFFICE: “THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE” SETS BOX OFFICE RECORD IN DEBUT

Not that there ever was any doubt about it, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire makes a record-setting debut for highest ever November opening for a Film with a monstrous $161.1 million this weekend across North America for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films! The record previous was held by The Twilight Saga: New Moon in 2009 with $142 million.  The Action-Fantasy, the second in the Series of four Films, opened in 4,163 theatres with an excellent A CinemaScore and equally strong reviews from Critics (89% on the Tomatometer).  By contrast, its Predecessor earned $152 million in its March 2012 debut.

In its third week, Thor: The Dark World slips to second spot with $14.1 million from 3,713 theatres for Disney.  To-date the second Film in the Thor Franchise has earned $168 million domestically.

The Best Man Holiday continues to go strong in third in its second week out for Universal Pictures, earning $12.5 million and almost surpassing the $50-million mark.

Debuting in fourth with $8.2 million from 3,036 theatres is Sperm Donor-Comedy, Delivery Man starring Vince Vaughn.   The Adaptation of TIFF ’11 Favourite Starbuck, released by Disney, didn’t do amazingly well with Critics who gave it 35% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences responded much better giving it a B+ CinemaScore.

Gravity continues to bring in the cash for Warner Bros., now in its seventh week with $3.5 million. Domestically, the Film has grossed $245 million in its eight weeks in theatres.

12 Years a Slave continues to perform well, now showing at 1,474 theatres, landing in ninth spot with $2.8 million this weekend for Fox Searchlight. To-date it has grossed almost $30 million, much of that impressively in limited release.

Dallas Buyers Club rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.7 million from 666 theatres for Focus Features/Remstar Films.  The Drama based on a true story has  a remarkable 95% on the Tomatometer and is a major Contender for Best Picture at the Oscars, having received a TIFF ’13 Premiere.