Box Office: "The Hunger Games" Chews Up the Competition

Taking over theaters in the most dominant fashion, "The Hunger Games" has put up huge numbers en route to landing the top spot at the box office over the weekend of March 23-25, 2012.

The Jennifer Lawrence starring Sci-Fi/Action/Drama film based on Suzanne Collins' best-selling book had theatergoers waiting in long lines while raking in $19.75 million during midnight showings and an estimated $66 million more on Friday while projected to wind up with a whopping $138 million opening weekend total.

Along with the big earnings, "The Hunger Games" was doted with rave reviews from those who saw it in the States, as audiences gave the movie an "A" CinemaScore while the teens/tweens grouping rated it with the highest possible grade of an "A+".

Getting knocked from it's top-placing perch, "21 Jump Street" dropped to runner-up status, as the reboot of the classic TV series starring the comedic duo of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill garnered $6.4 million on Friday while en route to forecasted second weekend earnings of $20 million.

Getting knocked from it's top-placing perch is the animated Dr. Seuss tale "The Lorax," as the Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White and Ed Helms voiced film pulled in $6.8 million on Friday and $8.7 million on Saturday while predicted to wind up with a third weekend total of $22.8 million.

Rounding out the top five at the box office in estimated totals are the animated Dr. Seuss tale "The Lorax" ($13 million), followed by the Taylor Kitsch starring Disney disappointment "John Carter" ($5.5 million) and the teen party caper "Project X" ($18 million).