Mockingjay tops box-office

MANILA, Philippines - By almost any measure, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 was a solid victor in the derby as it topped last weekend with a worldwide box-office of $275M.

Mockingjay handily beat the previous best opening of 2014, the $100M June debut of Paramount’s Transformers: Age of Extinction. Its international haul of $152M from 85 foreign markets outdid that of Catching Fire.

“It was a tremendous weekend,” said David Spitz, EVP of distribution at Lionsgate. It was the 15th biggest opening of all time. No franchise has had the first three films open above $120M before.

Based on past performance, Mockingjay would be expected to continue its upward trajectory. Catching Fire topped out at about $440M in offshore box-office last year, well above 2012’s $286M for the first in the series. With Mockingjay split into a two-part franchise finale, the film topbilled by Jennifer Lawrence (photo) could follow in the footsteps of other divided conclusions. To wit: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 earned $664M overseas whereas Part 2 grossed about $960M; The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 took about $430M internationally versus Part 2’s $537M.

In the latest installment, the story begins as Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) has just been rescued from the destruction of the Quarter Quell. She awakens in a shocking world she didn’t even know existed: The deep, dark underground of the supposedly annihilated District 13. She quickly learns of the devastating reality she must face: District 12 has been turned to rubble; and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) is being held, manipulated and brainwashed by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in The Capitol. At the same time, Katniss’ eyes are opened to a secret rebellion rapidly spreading from District 13 throughout all of Panem — a rebellion that will place her at the center of a daring plot to hack into The Capitol and turn the tables on President Snow.