‘The Hunger Games’ Soundtrack Eats Up The Album Chart

Robbie Daw | March 28, 2012 9:33 am

Like Katniss with one of her razor-sharp arrows, the soundtrack to The Hunger Games took aim at the album chart and hit the bullseye at #1 on Billboard‘s Top 200. The album, which contains such tracks as Taylor Swift’s “Eyes Open” and “Safe & Sound”, sold 175,000 copies in its first week, enough to bump One Direction’s Up All Night (55,000) down to #4 and leapfrog over Adele’s 21 (#2, 130,000) and the debut of The Shins’ Port Of Morrow (#3, 75,000). Other artists featured on the Jennifer Lawrence-starring film’s soundtrack include Kid Cudi, Maroon 5, Birdy, Arcade Fire, Neko Case and The Decemberists. The Hunger Games grossed a staggering $152.5 million at the box office last weekend, which marked the third-best opening ever (behind Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Dark Knight), and the biggest weekend for a non-sequel in movie history.

Back on the Top 200, Billboard notes that The Hunger Games is only the 16th soundtrack to debut at #1 the chart’s history. The last soundtrack to lead the album roundup was Michael Jackson’s This Is It in fall 2009.

The Top 10 Of Billboard’s Top 200 Chart

1. Various, The Hunger Games soundtrack *new* *1 week* 2. Adele, 21 3. Shins, Port Of Morrow *new* 4. One Direction, Up All Night 5. Odd Future, The OF Tape Vol. 2 *new* 6. Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball 7. Melanie Fiona, The MF Life *new* 8. Various, Now 41 9. Whitney Houston, Whitney – The Greatest Hits 10. Esperanza Spalding, Radio Music Society *new*