Director Ron Howard's whale ship survival story, starring Chris Hemsworth, scored only $11 million in its first three days, according to studio estimates. (Photo: Lionsgate) 
 
 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 floated to the top of the box office for the fourth weekend in a row after the weekend's major opening, In the Heart of the Sea, was severely roughed up. Warner Bros. and partner Village Roadshow Pictures spent nearly $100 million to make the movie — a budget that typically necessitates a bigger opening in order to end up a hit. Getting their attention in the next few weeks will be challenging, however, as presumed blockbuster “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” debuts Thursday night and six films open or expand nation-wide on Christmas Day. The Wall Street comedy-drama “The Big Short,” riding strong reviews and Golden Globe nominations, grossed $720,000 at eight theaters.
– More people opted to watch the final installment of The Hunger Games, prominently featuring Liam Hemsworth in its fourth week of release, than did those who showed up to witness the drubbing Chris Hemsworth took in the debut of what was supposed to be a star turn in Ron Howard's In the Heart of the Sea. Mockingjay: Part 2 took in $11.3 million this weekend, reports USA Today, good enough for its fourth consecutive crown, while In the Heart of the Sea managed $11 million. The movie "is a beached whale," says one analyst. "You can see studios being interested in this story. But the reviews just weren't there and there was no buzz whatsoever for this film." It's been a tough year for Warner Bros., notes the Wall Street Journal: In the Heart of the Sea marks just the latest in a series of flops that included Pan, Jupiter Ascending, and The Man From UNCLE. Warner Bros. has released more movies than its competitors, yet ranks No. 3 at the box office in 2015. For those looking for something in theaters to get excited about, the new Star Wars movie opens Thursday.