The odds were mostly in the favor of Lionsgate this weekend, asThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirdsand Snakesbrought theHunger Gamesfranchiseback onto the big screen after an eight-year hiatus. The reinvigoration of theHunger Gamessaga came out on top at the global box office, with the film generating an estimated $98.5 million worldwide, but these totals still came in beneath what most analysts were expecting.
This $98.5 million total came from $44 million generated in North America, an unsurprising sum given the popularity of theHunger Gamesfranchise in the states.The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesled the way at the U.S. box office, topping Disney’s second-place finisherThe Marvels,but was still below initial projections. However, despite this clear underperformance in the United States,The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesmanaged to generate another $54.5 million overseas. The international box office was led by the United Kingdom, where the film opened with $6.7 million. Rounding out the top five nations were Germany with $4.8 million, China with $4.5 million, France with $4.1 million, and Mexico with $3.7 million.
While this total is nothing to gawk at, it does mark a low for the franchise whose first four films generated a combined $3 billion globally during their theatrical runs. The highest-grossing film of those four,The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,grossed more than $865 million at the worldwide box office, a figureThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis unlikely to come anywhere near that total. While the film could still easily recoup its reported $100 million budget, it is likely beingbogged down by mixed reviews— it currently holds a 61% onRotten Tomatoes, the lowest in the franchise — and a less-than-favorable marketing window coming out of the dual Hollywood strikes. However, the film also has this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend to continue raking in the dollars.
While Lionsgate’s newestHunger Gamesentry doesn’t have the star power ofJennifer Lawrencebehind it, the film still has a notable cast. Based on the book of the same name bySuzanne Collins,The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesserves as a prequel to the original series. Taking place 64 years prior to the first book, the film starsTom Blythas Coriolanus Snow, the future president of Panem. Snow is forced to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from lowly District 12, in the upcoming 10th Hunger Games. But when Lucy captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates.
The film also starsViola Davis, Hunter Schafer,Jason Schwartzman, Josh Andrés Rivera,andPeter Dinklage.The project isdirected byFrancis Lawrence,who helmed the final three films of the original series. Lawrence directs from a screenplay byMichael LesslieandMichael Arndt.Lawrence also produces alongsideNina JacobsenandBrad Simpsonfor their Color Force banner and Lionsgate’s Good Universe label. Collins executive produces alongsideMika Saito, Jim Miller,andTim Palen.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis now in theaters.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesfollows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) - the last hope for the once-proud Snow family - who is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12 for the 10th Hunger Games. Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will become a songbird or a snake.
