Welcome back to the thrilling arena of the “Hunger Games,” where box office success is the ultimate prize.
The most recent installment in the Lionsgate YA action franchise, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” has achieved an impressive $5.75 million in previews at the box office. The prequel is anticipated to secure around $50 million in its opening weekend, with some estimates reaching as high as $60 million and others slightly more conservative at $45 million.
Directed by Francis Lawrence and adapted from the 2020 novel of the same name by “Hunger Games” author Suzanne Collins, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” marks the franchise’s return after an eight-year hiatus. Transporting audiences more than 60 years into the past, the film unveils the events of the 10th Hunger Games and follows a young Corioloanus Snow, the future president of Panem infamous for making Katniss Everdeen’s life miserable.
While the prequel may not reach the colossal success of the original “Hunger Games” movies from the 2010s, it is poised for a strong performance at the box office. Projections indicate an international earnings potential of $50 million, resulting in a global opening of approximately $100 million. The film, carrying a $100 million production cost, embarks on its cinematic journey with high expectations. Comparatively, the first “Hunger Games” installment premiered to an impressive $152 million in 2012, followed by 2013’s “Catching Fire” ($158 million), 2014’s “Mockingjay Part 1” ($121 million), and 2015’s “Mockingjay Part 2” ($102 million).
The cast of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” features Tom Blyth as Coriolanus, Rachel Zegler portraying Hunger Games contestant Lucy Gray Baird, along with Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, Jason Schwartzman, and more.
Entering the cinematic arena alongside this Hunger Games prequel are Universal’s animated musical “Trolls Band Together” and Sony’s horror offering, “Thanksgiving.” The “Trolls” sequel garnered $1.3 million in previews and is anticipated to achieve a $30 million opening, while Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving-themed horror film secured $1 million in previews and is projected to land in the $12 million to $14 million range. Last week’s box office champion, Disney’s “The Marvels,” is expected to experience a decline, with predictions ranging between $21 million to $23 million in its second weekend.