The latest edition of The Hunger Games franchise predictably dominated ticket sales at Australian cinemas last weekend although the opening was fractionally below the previous edition.
Still, let’s not quibble as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 racked up nearly $11.9 million, just 5.6% below Catching Fire’s $12.5 million debut a year ago.
The action thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth accounted for a whopping 68% of the entire national B.O. of $17.4 million which, by sheer co-incidence, was up 68% on the previous weekend, according to Rentrak.
Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar plunged by 42% to $2.18 million in its third orbit, collecting $13 million so far, but looks unlikely to reach $20 million.
Mature folks who were not interested in either blockbuster turned up to see Maggie Smith and Kevin Kline bicker and banter in My Old Lady, which fetched $380,000 in its second weekend on 94 screens, dropping by 22%, bringing its tally to $1.12 million.
UK dramedy Pride is hanging in, earning $258,000 in its fourth weekend, advancing to $2.3 million.
The Dark Horse, James Napier Robertson’s drama based on the life of little-known New Zealand speed-chess champion Genesis Potini played by Cliff Curtis, got rave reviews but minimal audience interest, judging by its $57,000 opening on 35 screens.
Rock the Casbah, Moroccan filmmaker Laila Marrakchi’s dramedy about three sisters who come together for their father’s burial, is yet another art-house casualty, taking $11,000 at eight screens and $29,000 including previews.
Maps to the Stars, David Cronenberg’s darkly comic Hollywood-set drama starring Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Olivia Williams, Evan Bird, Sarah Gadon, John Cusack and Robert Pattinson, opened with a fair $14,400 at two cinemas.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE Nov 20-23
|
|
Title |
Week/ Screens |
Box Office |
% +- |
Total
|
|
1 |
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay |
1/574 |
$11,888,205 |
NA |
$11,888,205 |
|
2 |
Interstellar |
3/498 |
2,182,322 |
-42 |
13,031,030 |
|
3 |
Let’s Be Cops |
2/261 |
761,694 |
-54 |
2,923,667 |
|
4 |
Gone Girl |
8/201 |
478,286 |
-48 |
25,591,675 |
|
5 |
My Old Lady |
2/94 |
380,104 |
-22 |
1,126,745 |
|
6 |
Fury |
5/195 |
344,293 |
-53 |
8,876,952 |
|
7 |
Pride |
4/153 |
257,790 |
-37 |
2,345,667 |
|
8 |
Love, Rosie |
3/151 |
182,835 |
-55 |
1,437,041 |
|
9 |
John Wick |
4/116 |
140,879 |
-63 |
3,044,269 |
|
10 |
The Drop |
2/450 |
102,005 |
-46 |
355,355 |
Source: Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia