Remember when experts predicted The Hunger Games could go over $100 million in its first weekend? That’s probably going to happen.

Last night, at midnight showings alone, the new franchise-starter bagged a record $19 million. That’s the most ever for a non-sequel. The Hunger Games also becomes the seventh-biggest midnight opening of all time.

The amount is more than John Carter made all last weekend, just to put it in perspective. At one showing. So the overall weekend numbers could exceed $100 million and give Lionsgate a bonafide franchise to milk for the next 4 years. [The Wrap]

the hunger games