“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” is off to a strong start at the box office after a $16 million haul on Thursday night, but fans are actually showing signs of franchise fatigue on social media.
There were significantly less tweets mentioning Jennifer Lawrence‘s final outing as Katniss Everdeen than there were this time last year for “Mockingjay – Part 1.” According to BoxOffice.com, “Part 2” garnered 337,961 tweets in the week of Nov. 11 to Nov. 18, while “Part 1” boasted 442,874 tweets. “Part 2” recently added 127,279 likes to its Facebook page, but that fails to compare to the 531,170 likes the page for “Part 1” gained in the second week of November last year.
Although the Lionsgate release’s social media stats are leading this weekend’s competitors, including Seth Rogen comedy “The Night Before” and Julia Roberts thriller “Secret in Their Eyes,” there seems to be a bigger threat on the horizon in a galaxy far, far away.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” isn’t hitting theaters until Dec. 18, but Episode VII is already generating comparable Twitter stats with 320,000 mentions the same week “Mockingjay – Part 2” hit 337,961. Fellow box office newcomers “The Night Before” and “Secret in Their Eyes” don’t even come close, with 43,169 tweets and 7,029 tweets, respectively.
BoxOffice.com senior analyst Shawn Robbins says this is the first time “The Hunger Games” has faced such stiff competition on social media — especially from a movie that’s still a month off.
“It’s unusual because ‘Hunger Games’ typically dominates the field by a wide margin on Twitter during its release week,” he said. “It says a lot that ‘Star Wars’ is on par with it during ‘Mockingjay, Part 2’s’ release week despite the former still being one month from opening. ‘Force Awakens” hype is clearly not being affected by anything else in the market.”
The decrease in social media numbers suggest there may be a bit of fan fatigue, even if they still shell out to see it in theaters. But they wouldn’t be alone. Both Lawrence and co-star Josh Hutcherson seem happy that the franchise is ending.
“I want to get back to my roots, back to indies, where I started,” Lawrence told Vogue in a recent interview. “This is my first time saying yes now that I am completely free of franchises. So there’s an elephant on my chest.”
Hutcherson told TheWrap last month, “It’s kind of nice to have my freedom again to take on any new projects I want.”
“For four years, I couldn’t work on a project in the fall time or when we were filming,” he added. “It’s nice to regain my freedom and move on to the next thing.”
“Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” opened Friday in North America, and has grossed $43 million around the globe so far.
'Hunger Games' 15 Most Memorable Moments: From First Kisses to Last Goodbyes (Videos)
Katniss Shoots the Apple
In the first movie, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is ignored by the Gamemakers during a private session, so she takes up a bow and arrow, which she shoots through an apple in the roast pig's mouth.
Katniss Sings to Rue as She Dies
In the first film, Katniss and Rue team up in the arena, where the latter is killed early. To honor her, Katniss covers her in flowers and sings until her last breath before displaying the District 12 salute.
"I Volunteer As Tribute"
When Katniss' sister, Prim (Willow Shields), is selected as a tribute in the first movie, Katniss offers to take her place, spawning the most famous line of the film: "I volunteer as tribute!"
First Look at the Cornucopia
Katniss and the other tributes first step into the Cornucopia, giving us our first look at the arena in which most are sent to die.
Katniss and Peeta Make Suicide Pact
Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) are the last remaining combatants after it's announced that two tributes from the same district can be victors. However, a last-minute rule change negates the first, and the duo hatches a plan to eat poison berries rather than fight each other to the death.
Katniss and Peeta's First Kiss
Katniss and Peeta lock lips in the first film after she discovers him injured and brings Peeta to the safety of a nearby cave.
Katniss And Peeta's Victory Tour
During Katniss and Peeta's return to Rue's home District 11 while on their victory tour, legions whistle the Mockingjay call and raise the District 12 salute before a riot breaks out.
Katniss and Gale Kiss
Giving Gale (Liam Hemsworth) fans what they'd wanted since his true feelings for Katniss became clear, the two finally kiss in "Catching Fire."
Katniss Reveals Her Wedding Dress
In "Catching Fire," Katniss returns to Caesar Flickerman's (Stanley Tucci) TV show to reveal her wedding dress/Mockingjay costume, cementing her as the symbol of the revolution.
Mags Dies
Mags, who was Finnick's mentor during his first go at the arena, volunteers to replace his love, Annie, when she is selected as a tribute. When Mags dies in the arena and Finnick says goodbye, hearts break in unison.
Gale Gets Whipped
Gale runs to protect a beaten-down woman from a peacekeeper, and is whipped in a public square as punishment.
Plutarch is Actually a Rebel
Philip Seymour Hoffman's character surprised everyone when it turned out he was a rebel all along.
Katniss Sings "Hanging Tree"
In "Mockingjay, Part 1," Katniss sings a rendition of "The Hanging Tree," when desperate but determined denizens from the various districts blow up a dam and cut off electricity in the Capitol.
Katniss Sees Peeta's Message From the Capitol
While captive, Peeta warns Katniss that the Capitol is coming for her and everyone in District 13. When his video message cuts out, Katniss declares, "We have to get him out of there before they kill him."
Reprogrammed Peeta Attacks Katniss
While he was held captive, Peeta's positive memories of Katniss were replaced with malignant ones. When he's released and sees Katniss for the first time, he tries to strangle her.
"If We Burn, You Burn With Us"
When the Capitol bombs a hospital filled with unarmed men, women and children in "Mockingjay, Part 1," Katniss broadcasts a message to President Snow: "Fire is catching, and if we burn, you burn with us!"
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In anticipation of the franchise’s finale, TheWrap looks back at Katniss, Peeta and Gale’s most shocking, heartbreaking and happy adventures
Katniss Shoots the Apple
In the first movie, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is ignored by the Gamemakers during a private session, so she takes up a bow and arrow, which she shoots through an apple in the roast pig's mouth.
