The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey enjoyed another weekend atop the domestic box office as it narrowly beat out Django Unchained and Les Miserables.
It was a bit of a strange weekend in terms of the box office, as we’re now in that time between holidays that is still kind of a holiday. Django Unchained, Les Miserables and Parental Guidance all opened on Christmas day, so while this is technically their first weekend in release, they aren’t exactly newcomers either.
In first place for the third straight weekend is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which is reporting a $32.9 million in 4,100 theaters for only a 10.9% drop from last weekend, bringing its domestic haul to $222.7 million and up to a whopping $622 million worldwide, as it’s well on its way to the billion dollar club.
In second place was Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, which had a major $30.6 million showing and has now reached $64 million from 3,010 theaters in just six days of release. This is a better opening than Inglourious Basterds, which went on to gross $321 million globally.
Third place went to Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables, which took in $28 million in just 2,808 theaters this weekend and is sitting at $67.4 million since its opening. This figure isn’t bad by any means, but it is shocking to see that Django Unchained still beat it in the per theater average this weekend, despite it being an R-rated feature on slavery.
In limited release, Silver Linings Playbook expanded over Christmas to 745 theaters and took in $4.1 million, just missing the top ten, as it now sits at $27.3 million domestically.
Zero Dark Thirty continues to perform strongly in limited release, as it took in $315,000 over the weekend in just five theaters. Gus Van Sant’s Promised Land, meanwhile, opened this weekend in 25 theaters and could only muster a rather measly $190,000.
In terms of 2012 totals, Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln now holds the mark of highest grossing drama of the year, with $132 million, passing two C-Tates features in The Vow and Magic Mike, which now sit in second and third, respectively.
With 2013 just days away, next weekend sees Texas Chainsaw 3D as the only new wide release, while Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty expands into more markets before going wide on January 11.
Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 earners for the weekend of Dec. 28, 2012:
Weekend: $32.9 million ($222.7 million total)
Theaters: 4,100
Budget: $150 million
CinemaScore: A
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Hypable Grade: C+
2. Django Unchained – $30.6 million ($64 million total)
3. Les Miserables – $28 million ($67.4 million total)
4. Parental Guidance – $14.8 million ($29.5 million total)
5. Jack Reacher – $14 million ($44.7 million total)
6. This Is 40 – $13.1 million ($37.1 million total)
7. Lincoln – $7.5 million ($132 million total)
8. The Guilt Trip – $6.7 million ($21.1 million total)
9. Monster’s, Inc. 3D – $6.3 million ($18.4 million total)
10. Rise of the Guardians – $4.9 million ($90.2 million total)