“The Hunger Games” got a grand global sendoff this weekend as the final film in the mega-grossing series racked up $247 million worldwide.
“Mockingjay – Part 2” bowed in 87 international markets and 32,500 screens, making it the widest day-and-date release of the year, and the most ambitious in the history of Lionsgate, the studio behind the series. Roughly $146 million of its total came from foreign territories.
The picture opened in first place in 81 of the markets where it played, scoring $17.1 million from the U.K., $16.4 million in China, $14.4 million in Germany and $8.7 million in Mexico. Despite the terrorist attacks in Paris last weekend that left more than 100 people dead and parts of the city on lock-down, “Mockingjay – Part 2’s” $7.1 million debut in France was roughly in line with the $10 million that part one made a year ago.
It’s a massive opening, but it is still dwarfed by the $274.9 million global debut of “Mockingjay – Part 1.” It also fell short of projections that had the picture opening to $300 million worldwide.
Though Katniss Everdeen cast a shadow over foreign multiplexes, some films managed to enjoy strong ticket sales. “Spectre” added $65.7 million to its haul from 92 markets, pushing its global total to $681.4 million and capturing second place on foreign charts. The latest James Bond adventure did fall steeply in its second weekend of release in China, free-falling 77% to $12.8 million. It has outgrossed its predecessor “Skyfall” in the People’s Republic, earning $77.8 million so far compared to the $59.2 million that film made during its entire Chinese run.
In third place, Taiwanese romance “Our Times” snagged $12 million, while fourth place finisher, the South Korean thriller “Inside Men,” nabbed $10.2 million.
The top five was rounded out by “The Transporter Refueled,” which added $9.8 million to its $58 million global gross.
