'Hunger Games' earns big

'Hunger Games' actors reveal fave foods

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• "The Hunger Games" grossed a staggering $ 19.7 million from midnight showings


• Saturday and Sunday grosses should prove quite sturdy


• "The Hunger Games" should take in at least $ 50 million on Friday

() -- The "Games" have officially begun!

Last night, "" grossed a truly staggering $ 19.7 million from midnight showings across the country -- the highest midnight total ever for a non-sequel, and the seventh highest midnight total ever (behind three "Harry Potters" and three "Twilights"). After only a few hours, it's clear that the film is already a smash, and it's almost certainly headed for a debut well above the $ 100 million mark.

Sure, the overnight figure can't compare to the $ 43.5 million that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" conjured up at midnight shows last year (on its way to $ 169.3 million -- the highest opening weekend of all time), or the $ 30.3 million that "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" found at midnight on its way to $ 138.1 million, but it's likely that "," which doesn't have the same amount of built-in sequel anticipation, won't face the same weekend frontloadedness as those titles. Saturday and Sunday grosses should prove quite sturdy. Back in 2008, "The Dark Knight" earned $ 18.5 million at midnight, but still managed a stunning $ 158 million debut -- the second highest debut of all time -- proving that not every blockbuster makes a full 25 percent of its opening weekend gross at midnight.

'The Hunger Games' crash course

Based on this $ 19.7 million figure, "The Hunger Games" should take in at least $ 50 million on Friday and could reach as high as $ 150 million over the full weekend frame -- although that estimation is very bullish. My fellow box office prognosticating colleague John Young is predicting a more sensible . We'll have to wait and see see how high it climbs.

Either way, it appears that the odds are very much in Lionsgate's favor!

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