‘Mockingjay’ steals box office over holiday weekend

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK — “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1,” the third film in the dystopian action series starring Jennifer Lawrence, collected $56.9 million to hold off advances by animated films “Penguins of Madagascar” and “Big Hero 6” and claim victory at the U.S. holiday weekend box office.

“Penguins of Madagascar,” the fourth in the series of “Madagascar” films, waddled into second place on its opening weekend with $25.8 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters for the three days ending on Sunday, according to tracking firm Rentrak.

Walt Disney’s “Big Hero 6,” the box office champion three weeks ago, was third with $18.8 million in ticket sales. The film has generated $167 million since its Nov. 7 release.

“Mockingjay,” which stars Lawrence as young archer Katniss Everdeen who leads a rebellion, recorded $82.7 million over the five-day Thanksgiving Day weekend and has generated more than $225 million since opening on Nov. 21, according to Rentrak.

The film, which scored the third-highest total ever for a five-day Thanksgiving weekend, has raked in $254 million outside the United States and Canada, for a global take of $480 million.