I think that by the time Mockingjay hit theaters, fans of the first two films that hadn't yet read the books had finally read the final book, didn't care for it, and the disdain for it has shown in the box-office numbers.

Those that read the final book know there isn't much to really be excited for in seeing on screen, unlike other final chapters in multi-film franchises.

Cool story. Except by that logic, why didn't BREAKING DAWN tank? Fans hate that book.

It was the split. Seriously. The answer is as simple as that. Audiences have caught on to not being satisfied by multi-part finales. (And I think Lionsgate is aware of that happening, which is why the DIVERGENT finale is now ALLEGIANT and ASCENDANT instead of ALLEGANT - PART 1 and PART 2).

You think Divergent-fans won't notice?

I'm sure they'll be annoyed, but Lionsgate is clearly trying to pull one over after the issue they faced with THE HUNGER GAMES.

Wait, really? That's annoying.

True. At least they did realize what the issue was.

Maze Runner is not having its finale split in two films. I wonder whether that will help.

So, Harry Potter was the only one to really be successful with splitting the book in half. I consider Hobbit, Catching Fire, and Breaking dawn failures in that regard. Of course, DH is the only one that really made sense to do it.

Eh, Breaking Dawn didn't really fail with that. I mean every single Twilight-sequel finished with $280-300 million. If they had not spklit the final book, the film probably still would have landed in that same range. The split didn't hurt.

it is interesting. MJ1 didn't seem THAT badly received. It had solid legs, yet MJ2's opening is behaving like that film had toxic WOM

I don't really think MJ1 had bad WoM. I think people just stopped caring more and more outside of the actual fanbase. And I do believe that Star wars had an effect by overshadowing everything else.

lol at anyone thinking Deathly Hallows needed two parts. Did you actually see Deathly Hallows Part 2? It was fucking empty. Breaking Dawn was ruined by being split too. I've not seen any other final book split movies, and that's the reason, because they will most certainly be shit. There is no creative reason whatsoever for splitting a book into two parts. It is purely financial. I am just sad the general movie-going audience didn't notice this earlier. It is another thing that Hollywood shoved down our throats until we were sick of it, just like 3D, superhero movies, etc.

This is going way off topic. Deathly Hallows was a long book. One part couldn't have explained what they are. It would have taken at least a 3 hour movie which WB never wanted to do. Part 2 was a huge hit and got great reviews you are in the minority.

I am sure the friday actuals will put MJ2 number further down and if it has mediocre saturday then it could miss 100m.

Jedi, hope you have a tasty shoe nearby.

Geez, with all the shoe-eating going around here, I believe there is a market niche for edible shoes.

Werner Herzog would be proud.

Well it isn't going to make 98 million so it isn't going that low. I was thinking it wouldn't do below 100 which it won't.

zwackerm, this is for you. Enjoy..