Jason Powers: 'Hobbit' breaks December opening record
BY JASON POWERS World Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
12/18/12 at 6:49 AM
It looks like the "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" surprised exactly no one and took the top spot at the box office over the weekend.
At $84,617,303, it beat out 2007's "I Am Legend" as the highest December opening on record but failed to hit the $100 million mark that so many had predicted. It did, however, beat "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which came in around $73.3 million when it opened.
Keep in mind that ticket prices have risen, and that because they don't track actual butts in the seats (which would be a much more interesting number), this may be a slightly softer opening. And if you take into account the $138.2 million that the film made overseas, it is in fine shape, considering that "The Hobbit" is getting a lot of grumbles from critics who feel that if one is to expand what is essentially a novella into three very long movies, one should keep it interesting every step of the way.
"Rise of the Guardians" came in second after four weeks in release, followed closely by "Lincoln," "Skyfall," and "Life of Pi," which I assume are being populated by people who have finally gotten around to it.
Also, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" made a little over $5 million and is inching toward the $300 million mark for some reason.
Original Print Headline: 'Hobbit' breaks December opening record
