'The Hunger Games' Prequel Tops Box Office Despite Franchise Low

The film, set 64 years before the original series, explores the origins of the dystopian world and introduces a new cast.

'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' tops the North American box office with $44 million in ticket sales in its first weekend, marking a franchise low for films carrying 'The Hunger Games' in the title.
The prequel, set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen's story, introduces a new cast led by Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler.
The film explores the origins of several franchise staples, including the mockingjays and the 'Hanging Tree' song.
Despite mixed reviews, the film has already earned $98.5 million globally, including $54.5 million from 87 international markets.
The film ends with a voiceover from Donald Sutherland, the original President Snow, saying, 'It's the things we love most that destroy us.'