Still in first place over its second weekend at the box office, Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug takes in $31.5 million for Warner Bros., New Line and MGM.
Still in first place over its second weekend at the box office, Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug took in $31.5 million for Warner Bros., New Line and MGM, bringing the film’s domestic total to $127.5 million. Overseas, the sequel also topped the box office charts, earning $96 million for a foreign total of $276.3 million and a worldwide total of $403.8 million.
In its fourth weekend out, Disney Animation's Frozen came in third place, taking in $19.2 million for a domestic total of $191.6 million. The animated feature is ahead of Wreck-It Ralph ($189.4 million) and only a bit behind Tangled ($200.8 million). Likely the go-to movie for family audiences over the holiday season, Frozen could be on its way to over $300 million by the end of its run. Overseas, Frozen is poised to be a huge hit. Still only playing in 60 percent of the international marketplace, the feature added $35.1 million this weekend for a foreign total of $152.6 million and a worldwide total of $344.2 million.
Disney newcomer Saving Mr. Banks expanded nationwide, taking in $9.3 million for a fifth place finish and a domestic total of $9.9 million. The biopic, which stars Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers, cost a reported $35 million to produce. Earning an additional $15.4 million overseas for an early worldwide total of $25.3 million, Saving Mr. Banks is reportedly doing especially well in the U.K., where Travers lived.
In sixth place, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has now earned $371.8 million for Lionsgate Films, second only to Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me 2 ($367.5 million). The blockbuster sequel remains on pace to earn over $400 million by the end of its run. Internationally, the film added $11 million for a new total of $393.6 million.
Marking the first major disappointment of the Christmas season, Fox’s CG animated adventure, Walking With Dinosaurs, debuted in eighth place at the domestic box office with $7.3 million. Adapted from the BBC miniseries, Walking With Dinosaurs tells the story of Patchi, an underdog dinosaur who transforms into a hero. Overseas, the film, which cost $80 million to produce, opened to $13.6 million from 40 foreign markets for a worldwide total of $20.9 million.
Setting a new Bollywood record, Dhoom 3 came in ninth place with a $3.3 million debut. The film heralds the top opening of all time for a Bollywood title in the U.S.
Rounding out the list at number 10, Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World brought in $1.3 million for a domestic total of $200.8 million. Overseas, the action feature, starring Chris Hemsworth, has made $426.3 million to date for a worldwide total of $627.1 million.
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.
