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‘The Hobbit’ Defends #1 Box Office Spot From ‘Django’ and ‘Les Mis’

Posted byBy Kevin Webb | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Even with their Christmas Day releases and award season buzz, neither Django Unchained nor Les Miserables could knock The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from the number one box office spot in its third week. Peter Jackson’s fantastic epic has now earned $222.7 million domestically with $32.9 million coming in over the weekend. The competition didn’t do too shabby either, with Les Miserables and Django Unchained bringing in $28 million and $30.7 million respectively.

Parental Guidance, Jack Reacher and This is 40 were all distant finishers, bringing in between $13 and $15 million each. Having gained acclaim as perhaps the greatest James Bond film ever, Skyfall reached a major milestone over the weekend, breaking $1 billion in worldwide box office since its November opening. Only 13 other films have reached that mark, including The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers which both grossed over a billion during the summer.

The Hobbit may owe its continued dominance over the weekend to the sale of 3-D tickets, having been the only of the top three films to offer 3D or IMAX showings. Universal Studios claimed that women and girls accounted for more than two-thirds of the audience for Les Miserables, which has brought in $67.5 million since opening on Christmas Day.

Here are the weekend’s final tallies in order, as compiled by Reuters from studio estimates. The film’s prior ranking is listed in parenthesis, while * denotes a Christmas release.

1  (1) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $32.9 million

2  (*) Django Unchained – $30.7 million

3  (*) Les Miserables – $28.0 million

4  (*) Parental Guidance – $14.8 million

5  (2) Jack Reacher – $14.0 million

6  (3) This is 40 – $13.2 million

7  (5) Lincoln – $ 7.5 million

8  (6) The Guilt Trip – $ 6.7 million

9  (7) Monsters Inc – $ 6.4 million

10 (4) Rise of the Guardians – $ 4.9 million

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