Overall business will be down from this same weekend last year.
Final installments usually get stronger business than usual. Not the case here. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part II earned an estimated $46 million on Friday. That's off from Part I's $55.1 million opening day, as well as Catching Fire's $71 million opening day. A similar multiple to both of those movies would give Part II $102 million for the weekend, well below expectations (which had forecasted a debut in the $115-130 million vicinity). Now this is nowhere near a bad start, but I'm sure its not the way Lionsgate wanted this blockbuster franchise to end.
Spectre fell off some, as expected, off 58% from last Friday to $4.3 million, in what will likely be a $14 million weekend. The Peanuts Movie, sadly, continued to show it was front-loaded for an animated title, falling 48% from last Friday to $2.9 million. Look for a $12.5-13 million third frame for the comic strip adaptation.
The Night Before opened in fourth place with less-than-expected, earning $3.6 million on Friday for what will likely be a $10 million opening weekend. The Secret in Our Eyes fared worse, earning just $2.3 million on Friday, in what will likely be a $7 million opening.
