The Hunger Games was huge this weekend, opening to $155 million in ticket sales.
The opening weekend returns exceeded expectations by many in Hollywood. Only two other films have had a bigger debut–the last Harry Potter movie and The Dark Knight.
The film, based on Suzanne Collins’ popular trilogy about a dystopian future and starring Jennifer Lawrence, broke from the gate at midnight Friday, earning $19.7 million and seventh place in the midnight screening record books. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two remains the runaway champ, collecting $43.5 million in its midnight shows last year.
The comedy 21 Jump Street took second with $21.3 million, followed by the animated film The Lorax with $13.1 million.
John Carter, the $250 million sci-fi flop, was fourth with $5 million. The fantasy film has made $62.3 million in three weeks.
The action film Act of Valor rounded out the top five with $2.1 million.
Hunger helped propel movie attendance to 22% over the same period last year.
