"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" has scored the highest opening of the year, defeating holdovers "Big Hero 6," "Dumb and Dumber To" and "Interstellar."

"Mockingjay Part 1" opened to $123 million in 4,151 theaters. The opening marked the best debut for a film this year. Previously "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" was credited with the highest opening as it opened to $100 million in the summer. While the "Mockingjay" debut was strong for the year, it marked a franchise low. In 2012 "The Hunger Games" opened to $152 million, and in 2013 "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" opened to $158.1 million. Going into the weekend pundits suggested the film would debut between $130 million to $150 million. However, the lack of action, a incoherent plotline and mixed reviews affected the film's opening. Additionally, "Mockingjay Part 1" did not open in IMAX, which was a big difference from the opening of the past two films.

The disappointing opening is the latest for a year that has seen a number of franchises underperform. The summer box office was one of the worst in years, and many franchises, including "The Amazing Man 2" and "Transformers," also scored franchise lows. The fall season had gotten off to a solid start with a number of surprise hits. However, this past November has already seen many blockbusters underperform.

"Mockingjay Part 1," however, is still on track to become the grossing film of the year and could still make it to the $400 million if mouth remains high.

In second place "Big Hero 6" made another $20 million. The film has now made $135 million but now faces tough competition next weekend from "Penguins of Madagascar." The movie is still on track to pass the $200 million, but it is unlikely it will reach the heights of last year's "Frozen."

In third place, "Interstellar" made another $15 million and brought its gross to $120.6 million. The film continues to suffer from mixed reviews and a lack of mouth. The movie has been performing solidly during the week and could get a boost during the Thanksgiving break. However, it is behind all of Christopher Nolan's previous blockbuster films and last year's "Gravity." The movie is not performing as most pundits expected, and with competition from "Exodus" and "the Hobbit" coming in the next weeks, it is still questionable whether "Interstellar" will even reach the $200 million.

Last weekend's No. 1 film "Dumb and Dumber To" fell 61 percent and made $13.1 million. Having already grossed $57 million, the film could end its run near the $100 million mark.

Rounding out the top five "Gone Girl" continued to perform solidly. The film fell 38 percent and made $2.8 million. The David Fincher noir has already made $156 million and will definitely benefit from the upcoming awards season and could end its run close to the $200 million mark.

In sixth place, "Beyond the Light" fell 57 percent in its second weekend and made $2.6 million. The movie has made $10 million and could end its theatrical run with $15 million to $20 million.

Meanwhile, "St. Vincent" continued solidly and made another $2.3 million. To date, the film has grossed $36 million and will continue its solid run especially with Golden Globes being announced in the next few weeks.

"Birdman" declined 24 percent and made $1.8 million. Fox Searchlight has not done as well as the company hoped and has made $14.4 million. The studio has stated that it will release the movie in wider release once awards are announced in January.

In limited release, "The Theory of Everything" made $1.5 million in 140 theaters. The film has already grossed an impressive $2.7 million in limited release, and Focus Features will expand the Stephen Hawking biopic into 700 theaters this weekend hoping to cross over into the mainstream.

Sony Pictures Classics expanded "Foxcatcher" into 24 theaters and made $474,000. In two weeks the film has made and impressive $822,000. With awards buzz, Sony plans on expanding the film next weekend.

"The Homesman" also continued solid business as it expanded into 33 theaters and made $140,000. In its first two weeks the film has made $202,000. Saban Films will expand the feature in the coming weeks in hopes of obtaining awards buzz.

After a disastrous opening weekend, the Open Roads drama "Rosewater" fell 49 percent and made $578,000. The feature, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, has only made $2 million in two weeks and is likely to be taken out of theaters quickly. The movie was expected to play into the awards race. However, with low buzz and no enthusiasm from audiences, "Rosewater" will easily be sunk by the competition.

"Whiplash" also failed to cross over into the mainstream, even though it scored universal praise and won the Sundance Film Festival. After seven weeks at the box office, the film has only made $3.2 million. It is the latest Sundance film to underperform at the box office and ranks as the fifth grossing Sundance selection for 2014. To date "The Skeleton Twins" is the highest grossing picture from the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. The film has only grossed $5 million, which is weak if you compare it to 2013's No. 1 grosser from Sundance, "Don Jon." That movie made $24 million in its complete run.

"Whiplash's" gross is also weak if you compare to other Grand Jury winners such as "Fruitvale Station," which made $16 million and "Beasts of the Southern Wild" which made $12.7 million.

"Whiplash" is currently an Oscar contender, and if it scores multiple nominations, it could benefit at the box office.