Post-apocalyptic action movie "The Hunger Games" opened with a staggering $155 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices, beating Hollywood's lofty expectations and making history as the third-highest domestic film opening.<br/> <br />Internationally, the Lions Gate Entertainment drama about an oppressive society's teen death match added $59.3 million from 67 markets for a global haul of $214.3 million.<br/> <br />The massive U.S. and Canadian debut for the film ranked behind only last summer's "Harry Potter" finale and 2008 Batman movie "The Dark Knight."<br/> <br />Reuters Hollywood business reporter, Lisa Richwine, said that "The Hunger Games'" success is a notable milestone.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Lisa Richwine, Reuters Hollywood business reporter, saying (English):<br/> <br />"With a sequel you expect a lot of people to turn out if they liked the last movie, but with a brand new movie that's never been made before, a new concept, you never know if people are going to turn out or not. And for this movie they did."<br/> <br />"The Hunger Games" set the record for highest domestic opening of a non-sequel film and for the biggest debut outside the summer blockbuster season.<br/> <br />The movie's success brings the first blockbuster franchise to Lions Gate, a smaller Hollywood studio best known previously for the "Saw" horror series and comedian Tyler Perry's films.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Lisa Richwine, Reuters Hollywood business reporter, saying (English):<br/> <br />"Lions Gate is very happy. They will make a lot of money on this. It's their biggest movie ever, not just biggest opening weekend but it's already grossed more than any movie they've put out before."<br/> <br />The "Hunger Games" blew past the domestic debuts for each of the first four "Twilight" films, which Lions Gate now owns after buying Summit Entertainment in January.<br/> <br />Lions Gate has already announced that the film version of the second book in the series, "Catching Fire," is scheduled for a November 2013 release.<br/> <br />Lindsay Claiborn, Reuters.
