‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ box office collection soars to $200 million worldwide; ‘Napoleon’ narrowly surpasses ‘Wish’ | English Movie News

In a surprising turn of events over the Thanksgiving weekend, Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” outshone expectations, dominating the box office for the second consecutive week. Despite the highly anticipated release of Disney’s “Wish” and Ridley Scott‘s epic “Napoleon,” it was the return to Panem that captured the hearts of holiday moviegoers.
After a strong debut with $44.6 million the previous weekend, “The Hunger Games” prequel continued to draw crowds, grossing an impressive $28.8 million over the weekend and $42 million over the extended five-day holiday frame. In just two weeks, the film has amassed nearly $100 million domestically and a staggering $200 million globally, solidifying its place as a box office juggernaut.

The battle for second place was a close one, with Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” narrowly surpassing Disney’s “Wish.” Despite mixed reviews (61% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm CinemaScore (“B-“), “Napoleon” exceeded expectations, grossing $32.5 million over the five-day weekend and an estimated $20.4 million from Friday through Sunday. Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, the historical drama also claimed the top spot globally with $78.8 million.

Disney Animation, known for Thanksgiving successes like “Frozen II” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” faced disappointment as “Wish” failed to meet expectations. The film, celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary, garnered $31.7 million over five days and $19.5 million from Friday through Sunday, falling short of the projected debut closer to $50 million. Critics expressed reservations, labelling it more of a marketing spectacle than magical cinema.
The box office landscape over the holiday weekend saw competition from DreamWorks and Universal Pictures’ “Trolls Band Together,” which added $17.5 million in its second frame. While Disney’s “Wish” faced a more competitive market than usual, analysts suggest the story might not be over yet, drawing parallels to Pixar’s “Elemental,” which found success after a lukewarm start.

As Hollywood’s award season gains momentum, new releases like Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn” and Netflix’s Bradley Cooper-starrer “Maestro” entered the fray. Focus Features’ “The Holdovers,” starring Paul Giamatti, continued to hold its ground, making $3.8 million over the five-day weekend.
While the overall ticket sales reached $172 million in the U.S. and Canada, a significant uptick from recent years, it still falls behind the pre-pandemic Thanksgiving weekends, indicating a continued evolution of audience patterns in the post-pandemic era.