NEW YORK (AP) — The teen science-fiction franchise “Divergent” debuted with $56 million at the box office, one of the year’s biggest openings, but one shy of some expectations.
Lionsgate’s adaptation of Veronica Roth’s best-selling young-adult novels, starring Shailene Woodley, didn’t reach the heights of the studio’s other teen franchises. “Twilight” opened with $69.6 million in 2008, and “The Hunger Games” debuted with $152.5 million in 2012.
But “Divergent” is still the second largest opening of 2014, following “The Lego Movie.” A sequel is already planned.
Disney’s Muppets sequel “Muppets Most Wanted” fared poorly, earning $16.5 million over the weekend. In 2011, “The Muppets” opened notably better with $29.2 million.
Last weekend’s box-office leader, the animated “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” slid to third place in its third week of release with $11.7 million.
