'The Hobbit' Expected To Chop 'Texas Chainsaw' At The Box Office: Biz Break

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is likely to win four weekends in a row at the box office. Also in Friday's round-up of news, Ashton Kutcher's Steve Jobs pic jOBS will head to theaters months after its Sundance debut; Kickstarter passes $100 million pledge mark; Michael Haneke withdraws Amour from an awards race; and a look at weekend expansions among the Specialties.

Box Office: Hobbit to Cut Down Texas Chainsaw
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is set to continue a month-long reign at the box office, outpacing newcomer Texas Chainsaw, which will open in 2,654 theaters. Hobbit has cumed $242 million domestically, Variety reports.

Ashton Kutcher's Sundance Steve Jobs Film Heads to Theaters
jOBS, the film about the Apple mastermind Steve Jobs from 1971 - 2000, which will close the upcoming Sundance Film Festival will head out to theaters April 23rd. Open Road will distribute the film directed by Joshua Michael Stern, Deadline reports.

Kickstarter Pledges Pass $100 Million
Users of Kickstarter.com have pledged upward of $100 million to independent film projects. Together, 891,979 people have pledged $102.7 million to indies since April 2009 of which $85 million has been collected for 8,500 projects, THR reports.

Michael Haneke Withdraws Amour from Austrian Film Awards
Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke has withdrawn his critically applauded Oscar hopeful Amour to give other local films a chance at recognition. The French-language film would have been ineligible for some categories. The film has already won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress at the European Film Awards and is Austria's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, The Guardian reports.

Specialty Preview: The Impossible, Promised Land, Hyde Park On Hudson Hope to Gain Momentum
Post-holiday attention on limited releases will focus on holdovers and expansions, including Lionsgate-Summit’s The Impossible, Focus Features' Promised Land and Hyde Park On Hudson and The Weinstein Company's Silver Linings Playbook and others, Deadline reports.