Five new nationwide releases hit theaters this pre-Christmas weekend, with none coming close to taking first place from “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”
Five new nationwide releases hit theaters this pre-Christmas weekend, though none came close to taking first place from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
The Hobbit, as it entered its second weekend, easily claimed the top position. The Warner’s release grossed $36.7 million, with a cumulative domestic gross of $149.9 million. Internationally, the movie took in $91 million, bringing its collective worldwide total to $433.9 million.
Jack Reacher, the PG-13 rated Paramount action movie starring Tom Cruise, opened in second place to $15.6 million. Based on Lee Child’s popular book series, Reacher was written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, and produced by the studio and Skydance Productions at a cost of $60 million.
Judd Apatow’s latest comedy for Universal, This Is 40, debuted in third place with $12 million.
DreamWorks Animation and Paramount's holiday-themed Rise of the Guardians came in at number four this weekend at the box office, bringing in $5.9 million for a domestic total of $79.7 million.
In its seventh weekend, Steven Spielberg's historical drama Lincoln came in fifth place with weekend earnings of $5.6 million and putting its domestic total at $116.8 million.
The Guilt Trip, the PG-13 mother-son comedy starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen, debuted at number six with $5.4 million. Opening on a Wednesday, which siphoned some business away from its $5.4 million weekend, the film’s cumulative gross now stands at $7.4 million.
Pixar's 2001 hit Monsters, Inc. returned to theaters this weekend in a new 3D version. The Disney rerelease picked up $5 million and ranked seventh. Its five-day total is $6.5 million.
MGM and Sony's Skyfall ranked eighth with $4.7 million, bringing its domestic gross to $280 million. Worldwide, the film has made a total of $974.1 million.
Fox's Life of Pi came in ninth place with $3.8 million and a domestic haul of $76.2 million.
Rounding out the list at number 10, Summit' Entertainment’s Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 made $2.6 million for a domestic total of $281.6 million.
Paramount also used the weekend to introduce Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away, a 3D feature directed by Andrew Adamson and executive produced by James Cameron that presents performances from various Cirque stage shows. While the PG film bowed in 840 theaters, at each it played just two shows per day at noon and 7 p.m. for what the studio characterized as a paid preview. On Christmas Day, it will begin full screening schedules at the participating theaters. This weekend, it took in an initial $2.1 million and ranked eleventh.
Box office numbers were obtained on boxofficemojo.com.
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
