Snowstorms in the northeast may be limiting moviegoing attendance this weekend, but inclement weather won’t stop Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf from ringing in the New Year in style.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey returned to the top of the box office on Friday, crossing the $200 million mark in the process. The $250 million Warner Bros. release grossed an estimated $10.7 million on Friday, putting it on pace for a $31 million weekend, which would bring its total to about $221 million and lift its worldwide cume past $600 million.
In second place, Django Unchained continued its terrific opening week, bringing in another $9.7 million. By weekend’s end, the R-rated Western will have earned about $27 million more, giving it a six-day total of $60 million. Based on these results, it seems likely that Django will replace Inglorious Basterds, which earned $120.5 million, as Quentin Tarantino’s highest grossing movie ever.
After three days on top, Les Miserables fell to third place on Friday with $9.4 million. Due to upfront excitement from passionate fans, Universal’s musical drama, which boasted an “A” CinemaScore grade, had already earned about $40 million heading into the weekend, and a likely $28 million frame will bring its total to a hugely impressive $68 million since its release on Christmas day.
Fox’s poorly-reviewed Billy Crystal/Bette Midler comedy Parental Guidance earned $5.1 million on Friday, which should yield a $15 million weekend — the same amount the film earned in its first three days. A six-day total of $30 million is nothing to write home about, but it’s not half bad, either.
Rounding out the Top 5 was Paramount’s $60 million Tom Cruise vehicle Jack Reacher, which sold $4.5 million worth of tickets and will finish the weekend with about $13 million. The thriller will have amassed about $45 million after ten days, and will almost certainly miss the coveted $100 million mark that Cruise used to reach so easily.
1. The Hobbit — $10.7 million
2. Django Unchained — $9.7 million
3. Les Miserables — $9.4 million
4. Parental Guidance — $5.1 million
5. Jack Reacher — $4.5 million
Check back tomorrow for the full box office report, and keep an eye out for a comprehensive year-end box office report early next week. And for more box office musing, follow me on Twitter.