Following a record-breaking opening, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey warded off newcomers to hold the top spot in the Holiday weekend box office.
With a rather solid 56% drop in its second weekend, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey brought in $36.7 million over the three-day weekend. Comparatively, the last big book adaptation Breaking Dawn – Part 2 suffered a 69% drop in its second weekend, although to be fair that was more heavily front-loaded. Looking back to Return of the King in 2003, the film only took a 30% hit its second weekend in release. Still, not a bad mark for the film, which has gotten solid word-of-mouth with an A CinemaScore.
Tom Cruise actioner Jack Reacher brought in $15.6 million in its opening weekend, along with an A- CinemaScore, which should make it a solid choice for action-lovers who typically turn out for Cruise. In third place was Judd Apatow’s This Is 40, which took in a rather paltry $12 million, and a B- CinemaScore, over the weekend, but in only 2,900 theaters for a per-theater average of $4,132.
Road trip comedy The Guilt Trip opened on Wednesday, and took in $5.3 million over the weekend for a five-day total of $7.4 million, along with a less-than-great CinemaScore of B-. Pixar’s Monster’s Inc, 3D rerelease picked up $5 million over the weekend and took in $6.5 million over its five-day theatrical run.
Lastly, Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty started its Oscar run showing in just five theaters in New York City and Los Angeles, taking in $410,000 this weekend and $639,000 over the five-day period for an outstanding $82,000 per theater average. Other limited releases include The Impossible took in $139,000 in 15 theaters this weekend for a respectable $9,239 per theater average. Michael Haneke’s Amour opened to $70,700 over the weekend and a $100,200 five-day total with $23,567 per theater. Finally, David Chase’s Not Fade Away brought in $19,000 this weekend from 3 theaters.
With Christmas just two days away, Les Miserables, Parental Guidance and Django Unchained are all set to open Tuesday, and David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook will expand to 700 theaters on that day, as well.
Here’s a breakdown of the top ten earners for the weekend of Dec. 21, 2012:
Weekend: $36.7 million ($149.8 million total)
Theaters: 4,100
Budget: $150 million
CinemaScore: A
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Hypable Grade: C+
2. Jack Reacher – $15.6 million
3. This Is 40 – $12 million
4. Rise of the Guardians – $5.9 million ($79.6 million total)
5. Lincoln – $5.6 million ($116.7 million total)
6. The Guilt Trip – $5.3 million ($7.4 million total)
7. Monster’s Inc, 3D – $5 million ($6.5 million total)
8. Skyfall – $4.7 million ($279.9 million total)
9. Life of Pi – $3.8 million ($76.1 million total)
10. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – $2.6 million ($281.6 million total)