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Box Office: 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' sets December record with $84.7 million

Middle Earth fans give the film an 'A'

By Gregory Ellwood Sunday, Dec 16, 2012 1:19 PM

<p>Hugo Weaving returns as Elrond in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."</p>

Hugo Weaving returns as Elrond in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

Credit: Warner Bros.

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Critics might not have enjoyed Peter Jackson's return to Middle Earth, but moviegoers certainly didn't shy away from the 2 hour and 49 minute epic.  "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," rhe first of three "Hobbit" films, opened this weekend to a staggering $84.8 million over the three-day frame. That's makes "An Unexpected Journey" the biggest opening ever in December surpassing "I Am Legend's" $77.2 million in 2007.  Audiences also endorsed the adventure flick giving it an 'A' Cinemascore rating. At this point, 'An Unexpected Journey' is seen as the clear first choice among moviegoers for the holiday season and it should dominate through New Year's.

Breaking ahead of a trio of films grossing just over $7 million second is DreamWorks Animations' "Rise of the Guardians." The 3D animated epic took in another $7.4 million for $71.3 million so far. It should eventually cross the $100 million mark, but it's going to take a few more weeks to do it.

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"Lincoln" took the third spot with $7.2 million and $107.8 million to date.. With 7 Golden Globes nominations and a slew of Oscar nods expected on Jan. 10, the Steven Spielberg drama should eventually end up somewhere between $160-170 million domestic.

Not far behind in fourth place is Sam Mendes' "Skyfall."  The highest grossing 007 film of all time took in a flat $7 million for $272.3 million to date.  Surpassing $300 million and $1 billion worldwide is almost guaranteed at this point.

Another Oscar contender, "Life of Pi," finished in the fifth slot with $5.4 million and $69.5 million to date.

New releases on Wednesday include "The Guilt Trip," "Monsters, Inc 3D" and both "Amour" and "Zero Dark Thirty" in limited release.  On Friday, "Jack Reacher," "This is Forty" and Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away" open nationwide. "The Impossible," "Not Fade Away" and "On The Road" will debut in limited release.

Final box office actuals are released on Monday.

Greg-ellwood-sm
Gregory Ellwood
Editor-in-Chief, Co-Founder
With over a decade of experience in the movie industry, Ellwood survived working for two major studios and has written for Variety, MSN and the LA Times. A co-founder of HitFix, Ellwood spends his time relaxing hitting 3’s on the basketball court and following his beloved Clippers.
Related Searches: Box office, The Hobbit, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Skyfall, Lincoln, Rise of the Guardians, Life of Pi
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  • 3_talkback_profile

    Intellectual Ninja

    I seriously don't know what film so many of those critics are watching.

    I wonder if they're turned-off by the 48fps and 3D, or they were so set against stretching two films for three that they paid more attention to a few of the lulls and decided to make a HUGE deal about them (like Fellowship didn't have more than a few lulls!).

    All I know is that I didn't check my cell phone clock ONCE during this film. I never even thought to, so mesmerized was I in this return to Middle Earth. And I'm not a "fanboy" or push-over when it comes to film. I am discerning.

    And I thought The Hobbit was very, very good.

    Is it Fellowship? Is it Return? No. I think it IS better than Towers, though.

    I agree with Drew McWeeny, it's a very good film, a solid B, B+ film. Well worth a return trip, and maybe even in HFR 3D, which I'm told doesn't give the kind of headaches that 24fps seems to give, which is the reason why I hate 3D (it gives me migraines I take home with me for hours afterwards... Avatar and How to Train Your Dragon were ruined for me).

    I guess I'll just take a queue from my favorite ginger Texan website proprietor and fanboy extraordinaire when I asked him on twitter what was up with all the critics trashing The Hobbit:

    "Bitches bitch."

    Succinct and very, very true.

    December 16, 2012 at 9:35PM EST Reply to Comment
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