The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey topped the box office for a second-straight weekend, but it didn't hold on very well. The Lord of the Rings prequel was down 57% to an estimated $36.7 million, for a 10-day tally of a fine $149.9 million and averaging a still-good $8,952 from around 11,300 screens at 4,100 theaters. Considering its' huge opening, that kind of drop usually is expected. However, all three Rings movies had much stronger holds, and through the same period, Hobbit is trailing all but Fellowship of the Ring through the same point. If anything, Hobbit had an identical second-weekend drop to I Am Legend. But with most people busy with last-minute preparations for Christmas, the film's business should pick up after Tuesday, followed by a very strong New Year's Weekend. If it keeps at my forecasted pace, Hobbit should finish its' run at least close to $300 million.
Topping the new releases, as expected, was Tom Cruise's latest star vehicle Jack Reacher, which roped in an estimated $15.6 million, for a per-theater average of a modest $4,654 from around 4,300 screens at 3,352 theaters. That opening was only a little over half of what Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol did last year, but an opening near that film's debut wasn't expected anyway. Reacher did manage to open in line with analysts' expectations, and considering its' debuting on a typically challenging weekend for an action pic, its' opening is actually quite solid. Remember, new releases on a pre-Christmas weekend usually see 50% or more of their business over the week after Christmas, so we'll have to see how this does over that time period. Critics were favorable towards the film, while audiences gave it an "A-" CinemaScore, both positive indicators of good legs. Reacher was produced for $60 million by distributor Paramount Pictures, and they forecasted a debut in the low-to-mid-teens millions.
Debuting to mixed results in third place was Judd Apatow's latest directorial effort, This is 40. The sort-of sequel to Knocked Up earned an estimated $12 million, for a per-theater average of a mild $4,132 from around 3,600 screens at 2,912 theaters. That was at the low-end of analysts' expectations, and considering the mixed reception of critics and audiences ("B-" CinemaScore), the road may not be as promising for this flick. However, adult-oriented pics don't usually perform well over the pre-Christmas frame, so expect at least a small bump over New Year's Weekend. Produced for $35 million by distributor Universal Pictures, the movie was expected to open in the mid-teens millions.
With kids getting out of school and the Christmas holiday right around the corner, DreamWorks Animation's Rise of the Guardians continued to hold itself together, easing a light 17% to an estimated $5.9 million, for a $79.7 million gross in one month of release. It remains to be seen if Guardians will get a boost over New Year's as Parental Guidance will arrive as competition on Tuesday, and if many of its' theaters will keep it after Christmas Day. Steven Spielberg's awards season contender Lincoln also held on strong, down 20% to an estimated $5.6 million, for a $116.8 million gross in seven weeks of release. With strong business guaranteed this coming week, Lincoln could earn as much as $150 million stateside.
It wasn't all good news for the new releases. Barbara Streisand's road trip with Seth Rogen didn't go far as The Guilt Trip only managed a sixth place debut. The comedy earned an estimated $5.4 million over the three-day weekend, for a $7.4 million total since its' Wednesday release. Over the traditional weekend, the film averaged a dismal $2,217 from 2,431 theaters. Falling short of expectations, the movie had negative reviews and mixed reception from audiences ("B-" CinemaScore). Thank goodness that there's a strong week of business ahead, which may allow Guilt Trip to rebound a bit over New Year's, but it will do little to improve its' disappointing status. Distributor Paramount produced the film for $40 million, and they were expecting a high single-digits five-day debut.
Faring worse (not financially) was Disney and Pixar's 3D re-release of Monsters, Inc., which came in seventh with just an estimated $5 million over the three-day, for a per-theater average of a puny $1,925 from 2,618 theaters. Since its' Wednesday debut, the re-release has earned $6.5 million. Falling way short of expectations, Monsters, Inc. earned less than a third of Finding Nemo's re-release opening. Even if it does pick up significantly next week, this will probably be the least-grossing 3D re-issue to date. But the conversion probably only cost Disney a very miniscule amount, so the only good thing it will do is that it will add to its' lifetime gross (which currently stands at over $260 million and counting). Disney was expecting around $10 million for the re-issue's five-day start.
Holdovers rounded out the Top 10. Beginning to exit theaters, Skyfall was down 28% to an estimated $4.7 million, for a huge $280 million gross in seven weeks of release. The 23rd James Bond movie will pick up on New Year's Weekend, but fall out of the Top 10. Life of Pi fell to ninth after four-straight weeks in fifth place, and was down 30% to an estimated $3.8 million, for a $76.2 million gross in one month of release, and is also prime for picking up in business next week. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part II was down 49% to an estimated $2.6 million, for a $281.6 million gross in six weeks of release, or about $10 million ahead of its' predecessor through the same point.
Finally, Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away debuted in 11th place to an estimated $2.1 million, averaging $2,542 from 840 locations. That's below expectations, but considering most theaters had just two showtimes per day, its' attendance was probably higher than some of the movies in the Top 10. The 3D concert movie will add more theaters on Christmas Day, and should pick up in business as a result. Distributor Paramount Pictures acquired the film for a small fee, whose budget was reported to be around $18 million.Internationally, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey topped once again with another $91 million from 59 markets, bringing its' early overseas tally to $285 million and worldwide tally to near $435 million. Life of Pi expanded to 46 markets and added $23.2 million, for an overseas tally of $160 million to date. Rise of the Guardians, Skyfall and Wreck-it Ralph rounded out the Top 5 with $13.7 million, $9 million and $7.8 million. Totals are approaching $150 million for the DreamWorks Animation pic, near $700 million for the 23rd James Bond pic, and close to $70 million for Disney's latest...(the middle one will be reaching $1 billion worldwide soon)...
Actuals will not be reported until after New Year's....
