The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Release Date, Cast & Plot: How Well Will it Do at Box Office?
With the fall season having gotten off to a radiant start, analysts believe the box office can recover especially after a horrible summer.
One of the films that is likely to become the top selling film of the year is undoubtedly "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1."
Based on the first two films, this upcoming sequel, which will be released in November, is likely to open in the $150 million to $160 million territory. The reason for this estimate is because the first installment opened back in 2012 to $152 million and ended up making over $400 million. For first films, that was an amazing achievement, especially since it was a March opening and the fan base had yet to be established.
Then in 2013, "Catching Fire" opened to $158 million and also ended up north of the $400 million mark. The campaign for the second installment was equally strong and the reviews were even better.
This year, Lionsgate has been building the hype for "Mockingjay Part 1" slowly, but has used the surprise factor to build anticipation. The company first released posters and viral videos and then followed with official stills. After building all that momentum, the company released a trailer that showed a number of action packed sequences. That trailer immediately became one of the trending topics for weeks.
Based on these results, it is likely the new installment will bring in at least $400 million and become the biggest film of 2014.
"Mockingjay Part 1" also has an advantage in that it will open two weeks after "Interstellar," which will give the Christopher Nolan movie enough time to conquer the box office and will open a week before Thanksgiving. That week will be enough to build hype and also allow it to spread word-of-mouth and should allow for another huge second weekend. The mega blockbuster also does not face tough competition on its opening week, as "The Imitation Game" is the only other big opener and the Weinstein Company has chosen a platform release for the Oscar contender.
The weekend after "Horrible Bosses 2" and "Penguins of Madagascar" are the only competition. Neither of these films is likely to top "The Hunger Games" in its second weekend.
Finally, another reason why the film will score a big numbers at the box office is because it stars Jennifer Lawrence, who has shown in recent films that she is a huge seller. Of her last six films, five have topped the $100 million mark. Two of these films were not part of a blockbuster and featured her in leading roles. "American Hustle" grossed $150 million while "Silver Linings Playbook" made $132 million.
"The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1" tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, who is in District 13 after she shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage. The film also stars Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson. It will open on Nov. 21 in wide release.