“The Hunger Games” broke box office records and earned a place at the top of the domestic record book after raking in $155 million in the United States and Canada its opening weekend. The post-apocalyptic action film starring Jennifer Lawrence came in third place for highest-grossing domestic debut, with 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and 2008’s The Dark Knight in first and second place respectively. The Dark Knight earned just $3.4 million more than The Hunger Games while the Harry Potter finale raked in $14.2 million more.
The Hunger Games, which also stars Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci, also set a record for the highest-grossing debut weekend of a non-sequel film.
The Hunger Games took in $59.3 million overseas, putting its worldwide opening total at an impressive $214.3 million.
"This is the birth of a franchise. To launch in this fashion is mindboggling," said Lionsgate Entertainment head of distribution David Spitz.
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