'Mockingjay' makes explosive debut with $55M

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 made immediate impact on its opening Friday, bringing in an impressive $55 million, according to early studio estimates.

The massive haul also accounts for $17 million from late-night screenings on Thursday.

The film has packed theaters across the country on 4,151 screens, making it easily the number one film in the country on its pivotal opening weekend.

The one-day total is the biggest of the year, passing $41.9 million for Transformers: Age of Extinction.

This is the third film installment of Suzanne Collins' best-selling trilogy.

Both 2012's The Hunger Games and 2013's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire made more than $150 million on their respective opening weekends. Box office analysts will be watching to see if the third film can continue to reach that mark.

Mockingjay features Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) joining the rebellion against the Capitol and features an entirely new group of rebel characters, including President Alma Coin (played by Julianne Moore).

Lionsgate split the final Mockingjay book into two parts. The final chapter, Mockingjay -- Part 2, will open November 2015.

Mockingjay -- Part 1 opened internationally with an additional $67.5 million. This included $8.2 million in two days in the United Kingdom and $5.3 million in Russia.

In Australia, Mockingjay is the number one film opening of the year with $4.6 million after two days.