The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 Scores $16 Million On Opening Night

The finale of The Hunger Games franchise is off to a strong start with $16 million in Thursday night showings in the US. While historically movies opened occasionally at Midnight the day of their release, recent blockbuster films, like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, opened with showings as early as 7pm.

That $16 million is actually one million shy of what the first installment did a year ago in 2014. Catching Fire was the top Thursday night grosser of the franchise with $25.3 million.

The numbers put it slightly under pace for the around $125 million opening weekend expected in the domestic market, but it could make that up easily with Friday's showings and official open. Worldwide, the film took in $43 million so far from early showings.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 is in theaters now.