“Napoleon: The Hunger Games Prequel” dominates Thanksgiving weekend box office

The Walt Disney Co.’s “Wish” had been expected to rule the Thanksgiving weekend box office but was outperformed by Lionsgate’s “Hunger Games: Songbirds and Snakes,” which led ticket sales for the second weekend. Neither of the weekend’s top new releases could keep up with the “Hunger Games” prequel. While Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” outperformed expectations, it narrowly trailed behind “Hunger Games” for second place. The movie starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby as Napoleon and Josephine was also the top movie globally with $78.8 million.

“Wish,” however, failed to live up to expectations, bringing in $31.7 million over five days and $19.5 million Friday through Sunday. The movie faced direct competition for families in “Trolls Band Together.” Disney Animation releases have often owned Thanksgiving moviegoing, but this time they fell behind “Hunger Games.” Also entering wide release over the weekend was Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn” starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi.