Box Office Preview: 'Hunger' going for 4 in a row

The Associated Press, Thursday, April 12, 2012, 4:12pm (PDT)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games" has topped the domestic box office chart each day since its release and audiences will continue to pay their tribute, putting another $20 million in its quiver for a fourth consecutive weekend win.

A 24-day total of over $335 million going into the weekend will already place the film in the Top 25 all-time performers at the North American box office.

Second place with a gross in the low teens should go to the well-reviewed, R-rated horror entry "The Cabin in the Woods." The much-buzzed-about Lionsgate release features a screenplay co-written by Joss Whedon that puts an inventive twist on the fright genre.

Also nyuking for a spot in the top three is Fox's updated spin on "The Three Stooges," with an expected take of more than $10 million. Directed by the Farrelly brothers, the beloved goofball trio of Larry, Moe and Curly bring their particular brand of slapstick to a modern setting.

Universal's R-rated "American Reunion" heads into its second weekend with around $30 million and the potential for another $10 million in the retirement fund.

Paramount's 3-D treatment of the 1997 romantic adventure "Titanic" should add just under $10 million to the PG-13-rated classic's overall domestic total of more that $622 million.

Expected to debut outside of the top five with $6 million-plus is Film District's PG-13 action thriller "Lockout," starring Guy Pearce.

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Paul Dergarabedian is president of the Box Office Division of Hollywood.com and provides box office analysis for The Associated Press.

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