The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey came out on top with an estimated $10.7 million on Friday, up a light 6% from Thursday, but up 7% from last Friday. In 15 days, the Lord of the Rings prequel has surpassed $200 million stateside, and has earned $200.5 million to date. A $32 million weekend looks right on the money.
Surprisingly, Django Unchained came out ahead of Les Miserables on Friday. Quentin Tarantino's latest was up 17% from Thursday to an estimated $9.7 million, for a four-day tally of a solid $43 million. With its' R rating, the film will likely see a slightly more front-loaded weekend, which should result in a weekend of about $27 million, for a six-day tally of a huge $60 million.
Miserables was up 3% from Thursday to an estimated $9.4 million. It does seem like the movie is being front-loaded as its' fans showed up on Christmas Day. But with good word-of-mouth, the movie should essentially tie Django for second, but I'm going to give this the edge with $27.5 million.
The other Christmas Day release, Parental Guidance, is overperforming, and it was up 22% to an estimated $5.1 million on Friday. Based on recent family film trajectories, the film is headed for a $15 million weekend, for a six-day total of a robust $30 million.
Rounding out the Top 5, Jack Reacher was up 27% from Thursday but down 11% from last Friday to an estimated $4.5 million, in what will likely be a $13 million weekend, surprisingly down from last weekend. In eight days, Tom Cruise's latest has earned $35.5 million. This is 40 was up 30% from Thursday and increased 10% from last Friday to an estimated $4.1 million, and its' likely that Judd Apatow's latest will match last weekend's take ($11.5 million). In 15 days, the R-rated comedy has earned $28 million.
Continuing to hold on strong, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln took the seventh spot with an estimated $2.4 million, up 13% from Thursday and an impressive 72% from last Friday, for a $126.9 million gross in 50 days, and will likely earn $7 million for the weekend. Monsters Inc. 3D came in eighth place, and saw an 18% increase to an estimated $2.3 million, for a dismal $14.4 million gross in 10 days. Disney and Pixar's re-issue will likely clock in $7 million for the weekend as well. Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogen's The Guilt Trip was up 28% from Thursday and 45% from last Friday to an estimated $2.2 million, for a still-abysmal $16.7 million in 10 days. DreamWorks Animation's Rise of the Guardians rounded out the Top 10 with a 14% increase to an estimated $1.8 million, for what should be a $5.5 million weekend, for a $87.3 million gross in 38 days.
Outside the Top 10, Skyfall was up 12% from Thursday (and up 16% from last Friday) to an estimated $1.5 million, for a $286.5 million gross in 50 days and should gross around $4.5 million for the weekend. Expanding into more theaters, The Silver Linings Playbook was up 32% from Thursday to an estimated $1.3 million, for a $24.5 million gross in 43 days and should find its' way to a $4 million weekend. Life of Pi was up 15% from Thursday and 20% from last Friday to an estimated $1.2 million, for a $82.1 million gross in 38 days and should earn around $3.5 million for the weekend. Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away was up 13% from Thursday, but was down 8% from last Friday to an estimated $740,000, and should match last weekend's $2.2 million take.
Weekend estimates to be posted tomorrow...
