'Catching Fire' ablaze with $135M at box office

LOS ANGELES -- "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is a scorching hit at the box office.

Lionsgate has released early numbers on what's expected to be one of the biggest November openings ever. "Catching Fire" has grossed $70.5 million domestically and $64 million internationally, bringing its total to $135 million, the studio reported yesterday, according to The Associated Press.

Numbers were from Friday's opening day but include some scattered preview shows on Thursday night. The sequel gained $25.3 million from Thursday screenings.

"Catching Fire" is expected to bump two-week champ "Thor: The Dark World" out of the No. 1 slot.

Totals for "Catching Fire" are expected to reach $150 million domestically over the weekend, though some reports estimated a $170 million opener.

"This is a testament to the power of the books, the way the first film resonated across the world with audiences and Jennifer Lawrence's continued success and popularity, particularly in this role," box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak said of the "Catching Fire" success.

The impressive opening of "Catching Fire" is expected to mark the eighth-highest domestic opening to date. "The Hunger Games," with $67.3 million its opening night in 2012, holds the title of the sixth-highest opening weekend with $152.5 million.

"The Avengers" sits at No. 1 with $207.4 million.

According to poll data, the popularity of "Catching Fire" is crossing over to all moviegoers, as compared to the female-heavy audience of "Hunger Games." About 12 percent more male moviegoers saw "Catching Fire," and the audience was split equally between those older and younger than 25.