The odds were very much in their favor for a huge opening weekend.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire smashed the November opening record, grossing $161.1 million domestically. The Twilight Saga: New Moon previously held the record with $142 million in 2009.
This huge debut also makes the action-adventure thriller, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth to name a few, the fourth highest-grossing opening weekend of all time. Marvel's The Avengers holds the all-time record with $207.4 million, followed by Iron Man: 3 with $174.1 million and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 with $169.1 million.
Catching Fire broke the Hunger Games previous numbers, which made $152.5 million in its opening weekend in 2012.
The sequel was on pace for this massive opening, earning $25.3 million on Thursday night and early Friday, its studio estimated.
Catching Fire earned $307.7 million worldwide in 65 territories.
Thor: The Dark World took the very distant No.2 spot, earning $14.12 million. The Best Man Holiday was No.3, taking home $12.5 million while Delivery Man debuted at No.4 with $8.2 million.
Here's a complete look at the weekend's top movies, Friday-Sunday studio estimates and stats compiled by Box Office Mojo:
1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: $161.1 million
2. Thor: The Dark World: $14.12 million
3. The Best Man Holiday: $12.5 million
4. Delivery Man: $8.2 million
5. Free Birds: $5.3 million
6. Last Vegas: $4.4 million
7. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa: $3.45 million
8. Gravity: $3.3 million
9. 12 Years a Slave: $2.8 million
10. Dallas Buyers Club: $2.77 million