NEW YORK — Moviegoers satiated their appetite for the “Hunger Games” franchise by making the sequel “Catching Fire” one of the year’s biggest hits.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” opened with $161.1 million at the domestic weekend box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It became the biggest November debut ever, as well as Lionsgate’s most lucrative opening.

The result fell short of some expectations and failed to dethrone the year’s biggest box-office opening, “Iron Man 3” with $174 million. But the film opened massively worldwide, taking in $307.7 million.

The marketplace largely ceded the weekend to “Catching Fire.” The only other new wide release was Disney’s Vince Vaughn comedy “Delivery Man,” which sputtered to an $8.2 million opening.

The box-office performance for “Catching Fire” establishes “Hunger Games,” starring Jennifer Lawrence as the archer heroine of Suzanne Collins’ young adult series, as among the elite franchises.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” $161.1 million ($146.6 million international).

2. “Thor: The Dark World,” $14.1 million ($24.8 million international).

3. “The Best Man Holiday,” $12.5 million.

4. “Delivery Man,” $8.2 million ($1.2 million international).

5. “Free Birds,” $5.3 million ($575,000 international).

6. “Last Vegas,” $4.4 million ($2.4 million international).

7. “Bad Grandpa,” $3.5 million ($2.4 million international).

8. “Gravity,” $3.3 million ($46.6 million international).

9. “12 Years a Slave,” $2.8 million.

10. “Dallas Buyers Club,” $2.8 million.