As expected, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies kept the top spot, but held better than anyone anticipated. The third and final installment of Peter Jackson's trilogy was off a light 25% to $40.9 million, for a strong 12-day pick-up of $168 million. That is ahead of The Desolation of Smaug ($140 million) and even in line with An Unexpected Journey ($168 million) through the same point, though those opened earlier in December (they were around Christmas Day by this point in their runs). Still though, this is a better post-Christmas hold than either of those movies and points at probably better word-of-mouth. With one more week of Christmas vacations coming up, Armies should stabilize even more and should be at over $200 million by the end of this week. It also seems likely that Armies may wind up ahead of Smaug's final gross ($258 million) by the time it finishes. Overseas, Armies is already at over $400 million and seems likely also to be the year's only $1 billion grosser.Actuals revealed a different result on Monday than they did on Sunday.
Debuting to strong results in second place was Disney's Broadway adaptation Into the Woods. The highly-anticipated flick opened to a solid $31.1 million, for a strong $46.1 million pick-up since Christmas Day. Playing at just 2,440 locations, Woods averaged a Top 10-strongest $12,726. As for musicals, Woods came up just short of Les Miserables' $47.7 million 4-day start, though that one opened when Christmas Day was earlier in the week (Tuesday) and went on to earn $67 million over a six-day period. Woods exceeded expectations thanks to a solid marketing campaign, the popularity of Stephen Sondheim's musical, and some awards season buzz (3 Golden Globe noms and a strong chance at a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for Meryl Streep). Reviews were solid (72% on Rotten Tomatoes) while audience reception was more mixed (B CinemaScore). Regardless, with a PG rating (though this isn't for younger children), this will play well with family audiences over the rest of Christmas break. The budget was a relatively small $50 million.
The post-Christmas weekend usually benefits many holdovers. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb had a 18% leap to $20.2 million. The final installment in the fantasy trilogy has picked up a modest $54.7 million in 10 days and has a week of strong business to come. Tomb still won't earn as much as the previous two movies in the franchise, but with strong overseas grosses, it won't end up a flop for Fox.
In arguably better shape is the musical remake Annie, which was up a light 4% from its opening to $16.5 million. While that isn't a strong jump by all means (Into the Woods probably had something to do with this), the fact this is still pulling in this much in the face of strong competition is still good. Annie has picked up $45.7 million in 10 days and also has this week to look forward to.
Having a strong tick-up from last weekend, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I was up 28% to $10.1 million, and passed the $300 million mark in its sixth weekend (Catching Fire did it in 2 and a half weeks). Mockingjay is at $306.7 million and will also benefit this week. While the weekend was in line with Catching Fire at this same weekend last year, its still way behind that movie. Part I stands a strong chance at passing Guardians of the Galaxy at becoming 2014's biggest movie.
The other major wide release debuted in seventh place with OK results. Mark Wahlberg's remake The Gambler managed $9.1 million over the three-day stretch ($3,683 per-venue average), for a $14.1 million gross since Christmas Day Thursday. That's in line with expectations, though its not a particularly impressive by all means. Despite mixed reviews (48% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audience reception (C+ CinemaScore), this only had a $25 million budget. Considering most movies over Christmas have solid multiples, this should still end up profitable for distributor Paramount.Having perhaps the most impressive performance of the post-Christmas weekend is awards season contender The Imitation Game. Benedict Cumberbatch's true story-based flick pulled in $7.9 million over Christmas weekend from expanding to just 747 locations ($10,619 per-venue average ranks second in the Top 10 behind only Into the Woods). With Oscar nominations likely for Best Picture and Best Actor for Cumberbatch, Imitation will likely remain in this list for weeks.
Exodus: Gods and Kings was one of only two movies to drop in the Top 10, and was off 17% to $6.7 million. Ridley Scott's misfire is at just $52.5 million in 17 days, and despite this week giving it an extra boost, may only reach $70 million by the time its done. Overseas is at $100 million so far.
Wild rounded out the Top 10 in its fourth week, and also ticked up nicely over the weekend. The Oscar contender (for Best Actress) was up 31% to $5.4 million, expanding to 1,285 locations ($4,194 per-venue average). Wild is at $16.3 million in 24 days and is well-positioned to keep playing well and expanding throughout the coming weeks.
Below the Top 10, Disney's hit Big Hero 6 was up 38% over the post-Christmas weekend to $5 million, and is still playing in just over 2,000 theaters in its eighth weekend. In the process, it passed the $200 million mark (the second animated movie of 2014 to pass it after The LEGO Movie) thanks to strong Christmas break business, and is at $200.1 million in 56 days. One more week of Christmas vacations will only add to the strong business and word-of-mouth this has received.
Top Five hasn't had the playability many were hoping for, but it continues to hang in there. Chris Rock's well-received comedy was up 10% to $3.9 million, for a $19.1 million pick-up in 17 days. The movie may end up crawling to $30 million if it benefits this week.
Penguins of Madagascar, managing to hold onto just over 2,000 locations also, held onto majority of its business from last week in 13th place. DreamWorks Animation's disappointment was off just 6% from last weekend to $3.3 million. Since its opening one month ago, it has earned $71 million. It is playing similarly to The Muppets and Bolt as far as Thanksgiving trajectories are concerned. Should it continue following that path, it will wind up at $85 million. That's slightly ahead of Turbo, but that's not saying really anything.
Interstellar perked up solidly after Christmas too, up 11% to $3 million. Christopher Nolan's sci-fi epic (which may pick up some technical nominations at the Oscars) is at $177.4 million in eight weeks of release and will likely close at just under $190 million, under expectations. However, it is a massive hit overseas ($450 million), and is at $640 million worldwide and counting.
Just $1,000 below Interstellar comes another awards contender that may be on the outside looking in. Tim Burton's Big Eyes, which has Golden Globe nominations for Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams, only managed to pull in $3 million in 15th place ($2,297 per-venue average from 1,304 locations). Since Christmas Day, the dramedy has pulled in $4.4 million and may hold on well, if it can get some Oscar attention.
Finally, after being yanked from wide release (from the massive hack that made headlines), Sony put their North Korea vs. America comedy The Interview in limited release to OK results, $1.8 million from 331 locations ($2.8 million since Christmas Day and the decent $5,438 per-venue average ranks in the upper half of the Top 16). Its been a rough last couple weeks for Sony, and if they can expand this, this should find at least a little bit more. However, it should be noted this also debuted on VOD and available for $6 on YouTube, which according to Sony, grossed $15 million.
In limited release, potential Oscar contender American Sniper had the largest Christmas average ever, $158,000 from just 4 locations ($633,000 in 22nd place). Meanwhile, likely Best Picture nominee Selma had a solid $30,000 per-venue average from 19 locations ($570,000 in 23rd place). Both of these critically-adored movies are set to expand nationwide in mid-January, in time for the Oscar nominations announcement.
And that's it for 2014! I will have a few posts on how 2014 turned out later today into Friday. 2015 kicks off next weekend with The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death, which may succeed, or fail. With kids finishing up school break, all holdovers should also get another solid hurrah.
