Hunger Games fans, rejoice: Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen has dominated the box office once again. Mockingjay — Part 1 has surpassed Guardians of the Galaxy at the box office, becoming 2014’s highest-earning movie. On Wednesday, Katniss and Co. hit $333.2 million domestically, sliding past Guardians, which was resting at $333.17 million.
Since Catching Fire was 2013’s biggest earner, that means a franchise with a female protagonist has dominated the box office two years in a row. We seem to have to say this a lot at Women and Hollywood, but hey, guess what? Movies about women make money. This has been proven time and time again, and yet still too few people are taking notice, and consequently too few movies about women are being greenlit. Still, we are happy to add another example of a successful women-centric movie to an already-long list, and another piece of evidence in the case against sexism and ignorance in Hollywood.
As Variety notes, it’s especially impressive that Mockingjay — Part 1 reigned supreme at the box office when you consider that, “[u]nlike most major tentpole releases, the latest Hunger Games didn’t get the benefit of a 3D or Imax surcharge.”
We can’t wait to see the final installment of the series later this year — and witness its box-office ascension. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 will be released November 20.
[via Variety]
