Lionsgates Films adaption of Suzanne Collins dystopian set book "The Hunger Games" grossed 19.7 million dollars at its midnight showings in North America. It is the 7th highest grossing midnight showing of all time. The other 6 films include 3 from the "Harry Potter" franchise and 3 from the "Twilight" franchise. It is the largest midnight opening in a non-summer or non-holiday month and largest midnight opening in the month of March. It is also the largest midnight opening for a non-sequel. Expectations have 'The Hunger Games" grossing over 100 million dollars its opening weekend and could surpass "Alice in Wonderlands" 2010 record of 116 million opening weekend in March (With respect, Hunger Games is not in 3D while about 98% of all theaters showing Alice in Wonderland had it in 3D only.) It is almost three times the amount as the first "Twilight" film got at midnight in 2008 (7 million)
The top 10 midnight grossing films
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - $43.5 million
2. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - $30.3 million
3. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - $30.1 million
4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon - $26.3 million
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - $24 million
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - $22.2 million
7. The Hunger Games - $19.7 million
8. The Dark Knight - $18.5 million
9. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith - $16.5 million
10. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - $16 million
"The Hunger Games" is in theaters now, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Alexander Ludwig, Leven Rambin, Wes Bentley, and Donald Sutherland.