BOX OFFICE WATCH: THE HUNGER GAMES Breaks Records; 21 JUMP STREET & THE LORAX Stay Strong
Meeting all expectations, The Hunger Games had a dominating opening while TV series turned feature film 21 Jump Street and Universal's animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss story The Lorax only faced 40% drops for the weekend of March 16 - 18, 2012.
#1 - The Hunger Games
Weekend: $152,535,747 - Weeks in Theaters: 1
Total: $152,535,747 - Budget: $78,000,000
Screens: 4,137 / Studio: Lionsgate Entertainment
The Hunger Games cast includes Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Paula Malcolmson, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Toby Jones, Amandla Stenberg, Dayo Okeniyi, Leven Rambin, Jack Quaid, Ian Nelson, Kalia Prescott, Ethan Jamieson, Tara Macke, Chris Mark, Jackie Emerson, Ashton Moio, Kara Petersen, Jeremy Marinas, Dakota Hood, Sam Ly, Leigha Hancock, Imanol Vepez-Frias, Annie Thurman, Samuel Tan, Mackenzie Lintz, Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman, Latarsha Rose, and Brooke Bundy. The film is directed by Gary Ross and produced by Nina Jacobsen and Color Force.
The Hunger Games chronicles a dystopic Capitol which requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl, forced to participate in the annual “Hunger Games,” a fight-to-the-death live televised event. Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery to participate and Katniss volunteers to take her place.
Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home.
#2 - 21 Jump Street
Weekend: $20,471,187 - Weeks in Theaters: 2
Total: $70,222,515 - Budget: $42,000,000
Screens: 3,121 / Studio: Sony Pictures
21 Jump Street is directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller and stars Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle and Ice Cube.
In the action-comedy 21 Jump Street, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are more than ready to leave their adolescent problems behind. Joining the police force and the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances to go undercover in a local high school. As they trade in their guns and badges for backpacks, Schmidt and Jenko risk their lives to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring. But they find that high school is nothing like they left it just a few years earlier – and neither expects that they will have to confront the terror and anxiety of being a teenager again and all the issues they thought they had left behind.
#3 - The Lorax
Weekend: $13,182,045 - Weeks in Theaters: 3
Total: $177,412,055 - Budget: $70,000,000
Screens: 3,677 / Studio: Universal Pictures
Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic young boy who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Audrey, the girl of Ted's dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O'Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted's wise Grammy Norma. Directed by Chris Renaud.
The 3D-CGI feature Dr. Seuss' The Lorax is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams.
To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
