Box Office: 'The Hobbit' rules them all with $33 million weekend

'Django Unchained' at no. 2, 'Les Miserables' drops to no. 3

By Christy Lemire (AP) Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 1:44 PM

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

Credit: Warner Bros.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" continues to rule them all at the box office, staying on top for a third-straight week with nearly $33 million.

The Warner Bros. fantasy epic from director Peter Jackson, based on the J.R.R. Tolkien novel, has made $222.7 million domestically alone.

Two big holiday movies — and potential awards contenders — also had strong openings. Quentin Tarantino's spaghetti Western-blaxploitation mash-up "Django Unchained" came in second place for the weekend with $30.7 million. The Weinstein Co. revenge epic, starring Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz, has earned $64 million since its Christmas Day opening.

And in third place with $28 million was the sweeping, all-singing "Les Miserables." The Universal Pictures musical starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway has made $67.5 million since debuting on Christmas.

Fourth place went to "Parental Guidance" with $14.8 million and $29.5 million to date. "Jack Reacher" took the fifth slot with $14 million and $44.6 million overall.