There was a clear (and unsurprising) winner in the box office this weekend with at least one record broken.
At number 1 is, of course, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (read our review), the first film in a planned trilogy based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, with $84 million. Although Peter Jackson’s return trip to Middle-Earth broke I Am Legend‘s opening weekend record for December ($77 million), the film opened slightly below early predictions of $90-$100 million.
And considering the film was available in 3D, IMAX, and the new HFR (48 fps) format, there was some expectation it would use that extra per ticket cost to post stronger opening weekend numbers. Regardless of expectations, though, the film is still a new December record holder and has amassed $222 million in global box office revenue.
The animated feature Rise of the Guardians is the number 2 film for the second weekend in a row with $7.4 million. Though analysts have already labeled the film a failure for DreamWorks, it continues to hold its place in the top 3 as other films drop. Unfortunately, a $71 million domestic total compared to a $145 million budget overshadows its staying power.
At number 3 is Lincoln with $7.2 million, which presumably got a boost from the Golden Globe nominations that were announced on Thursday. Steven Spielberg’s biopic also eclipsed the $100 million mark this weekend, and is now up to $107 million.
Right behind Lincoln is Skyfall with $7 million, which brings its domestic total up to $272 million. As we mentioned in last weekend’s box office, the Sam Mendes directed Bond film is Sony’s highest grossing film ever, and it is also now only $50 million away from crossing the $1 billion worldwide threshold.
Rounding out the top 5 is Life of Pi, which made $5.4 million over the weekend, bringing its domestic total up to $69 million. Like Lincoln, Pi surely reaped the benefits of some Golden Globe love, even if it might not make back its entire $120 million budget.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 continues its fall from grace and is this week’s number 6 film with $5.1 million. Before it started getting leapfrogged by the likes of Guardians, Skyfall, and Lincoln, however, the film was able to amass $276 million in domestic grosses.
At number 7 this weekend is Wreck-It Ralph, Disney’s animated videogame-themed adventure, with $3.27 million. The film’s domestic total is now $168 million.
The Gerard Butler romantic comedy Playing for Keeps comes in at number 8 with $3.24 million. The good news: The film’s $10 million domestic total helped it beat out Butler’s other 2012 film Chasing Mavericks. The bad news: The once promising action star has continued his recent streak of flops.
Red Dawn, the remake of the ’80s cult classic, is this week’s number 9 film with $2.3 million. Even though the film is unlikely to make back its $65 million budget, a $40 million domestic total was presumably bolstered by the post-Thor success of Chris Hemsworth.
And finally, at number 10, is Silver Linings Playbook with $2.0 million on only 371 screens. The David O. Russell directed film is up to $16 million in domestic grosses – $5 million shy of its budget – and should continue to perform well thanks to its Golden Globe nominations.
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