Box Office Report: 'Hunger Games' Finishes Friday With Massive $68.3 Mil

Gary Ross' The Hunger Games grossed a massive $68.3 million at the Friday box office -- the best opening day ever for a nonsequel and the fifth-highest of all time.

our editor recommends

Box Office Report: 'Hunger Games' Earns Glowing 'A' CinemaScore

Box Office Report: 'Hunger Games' Shattering Records, Could Open to $150 Million

'Hunger Games' Studio Sends Lawyer Letter to Charity Using 'Hunger Is Not a Game' Slogan

'Hunger Games' Soundtrack: How The Pistol Annies 'Forced' Their Song Onto the Album (Video)

'Hunger Games': Mattel to Release Katniss Barbie Doll

Lionsgate's big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling young-adult novel, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, is headed for a record-breaking $140 million to $150 million debut, giving Lionsgate its first tentpole franchise.

PHOTOS: 'Hunger Games' Premiere: Red Carpet Arrivals 

Friday's performance, which included $19.7 million in Thursday midnight runs, put Hunger Games in the same territory as the Harry Potter and Twilight film series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, the final installment in that series, holds the record for best opening-day gross ($91.1 million), followed by The Twilight Saga: New Moon ($72.7 million), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn  Part 1 ($71.6 million), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse ($68.5 million) and now Hunger Games.

Hunger Games drew an A CinemaScore overall on Friday night, with those under the age of 25 giving it a glowing A+ and those over 25 an A-.

PHOTOS: 10 Pre-'Hunger Games' Top International Film Franchises

Part of the movie's strength is that it is appealing to males as well as females, unlike the femme-heavy Twilight franchise, another blockbuster film property based on a young-adult book series. Males made up 39 percent of Hunger Games' Friday night audience, while females made 61 percent. It also is playing evenly in terms of age, another boost.

Hunger Games has a good shot at cracking the top five best openings of all time at the domestic box office. Breaking Dawn Part 1 ranks fifth with a $138.1 million debut

And Hunger Games is certain to post the best opening ever for a nonsequel, as well as the best March opener of all time (2010's Alice in Wonderland is the current record holder with $116 million).

Hunger Games, produced by Nina Jacobson, is generating big numbers at Imax theaters, which turned in $1.3 million in Thursday midnight grosses, the best showing for a nonsequel.