The Hunger Games in its third week had little difficulty polishing off two new rivals, American Reunion and the 3D refurbishment of Titanic. According to studio estimates Hunger Games raked in an estimated $33.5 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $202.8 million. That easily made it the top-grossing non-summer, non-holiday film in history. The R-rated gross-out comedy American Reunion came in second with a not-bad $21.5 million. Since it was produced on a tight budget of less than $50 million, it will therefore earn a nice profit. The same can probably not be said for the re-release of Titanic , which reportedly cost $60 million to convert to 3D and market. It took in just about $17.4 million over the weekend, plus an additional $8.3 million on Thursday and Friday. Twentieth Century Fox and director James Cameron must now be hoping that the foreign box office (particularly China's) will save the day. Meanwhile, the comedy 21 Jump Street crossed the $100-million mark as it dropped just 31 percent to about $10.2 million, bringing its total tally to $109.6 million.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Box Office Mojo 1. The Hunger Games, $33.5 million; 2. American Reunion , $21.5 million; 3. Titanic, $17.4 million); 4. Wrath of the Titans , $15 million; 5. Mirror Mirror , $11 million; 6. 21 Jump Street, $10.2 million; 7. Dr. Seuss' the Lorax , $5 million; 8. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, $975,000; 9. John Carter , $820,000; 10. Safe House , $581,000.

09/04/2012