How Think Like a Man dethroned The Hunger Games: 5 theories

Despite middling reviews, the romantic comedy banks a surprisingly strong $33 million at the box office, ending Katniss' four-week reign

"Think Like a Man," which dominated the weekend box office with a $33 million haul, benefitted from strong word of mouth and the burgeoning popularity of star Kevin Hart (left).
(Image credit: 2011 Screen Gems Productions/Alan Markfield)

After an impressive four-week run on top of the box office — a winning streak that was bound to end eventually — The Hunger Games has finally been defeated. And surprisingly, the new champ is Think Like a Man, an ensemble romantic comedy based on a self-help book by comedian Steve Harvey. The film grossed a higher-than-expected $33 million over the weekend, even though it boasts no A-list stars, no special effects, and received decidedly mixed reviews. (The Hunger Games, which grossed $14.5 million, came in third, behind the Nicholas Sparks weepy The Lucky One, which grossed $22.8 million.) How did Think Like a Man dethrone one of the biggest blockbusters of the decade? Here, five theories:

1. Its targeted marketing paid off

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