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Weekend Receipts || ||

'The Hobbit' Sprints To December Record At The Box Office

'The Hobbit' Sprints To December Record At The Box Office

No surprise, it was a Hobbit weekend with the title, accounting for over half of the overall box office and even setting a December record. It did not match the highest estimates of some box office prognosticators, but nevertheless a solid showing considering its expectations. The top 10 grossed over $122.6 million.

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Gross: $84,775,000
Screens: 4,045 (PSA: $20,958)
Week: 1

As expected, Middle Earth proved highly lucrative at the box office, even setting a December record. With 4,045 theaters, The Hobbit's gross outpaced the previous December record-holder, I Am Legend with $77.2 million. It also performed above the start of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at $73.3 million. Still, the Lord of the Rings prequel did not match the lofty expectations of $100 million some had predicted. The feature accounted for over half of the b.o. over the weekend.

2. Rise of the Guardians
Gross: $7,420,000 (Cume: $71,361,823)
Screens: 3,387 (PSA: $2,191)
Week: 4 (Change: - 28.7%)

Rise of the Guardians placed second again and the title only fell about 29% maintaining momentum that should continue with its holiday theme. The pic will have to contend with a number of new releases headed to theaters between now and Christmas, so reaching the $100 million mark may still be tough.

3. Lincoln
Gross: $7,244,000 (Cume: $107,898,000)
Screens: 2,285 (PSA: 3,170)
Week: 6 (Change: - 18.8%)

After its big Golden Globe nomination haul, Steven Spielberg's pic on the 16th U.S. President held strong, only dropping under 19% as the title added 271 theaters. Among the Oscar contenders, it is the highest grossing, at nearly $107.9 million, ahead of Argo's $104.9 million.

4. Skyfall
Gross: $7 million (Cume: $272,366,000)
Screens: 2,924 (PSA: $2,394)
Week: 6 (Change: - 35.1%)

The latest Bond hit number one last weekend in a generally slow box office, but displayed bravado nonetheless. The pic continued to show strength over the weekend, placing fourth in its sixth week with only a 35% drop despite losing 477 theaters from the previous week.

5. Life of Pi
Gross: $5.4 million (Cume: $69,559,406)
Screens: 2,548 (PSA: $2,119)
Week: 4 (Change: - 35.2%)

Ang Lee's 3-D spectacle held decently with a 35% drop as it lost 398 theaters over the previous weekend. Life of Pi again placed 5th in the box office rankings and it continues to be a tiger at the box office overseas where it has grossed an additional $128.5 million. Still it will have a tough time hitting $100 million domestically.

6. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Gross: $5,175,000 (Cume: $276,865,000)
Screens: 3,042 (PSA: $1,701)
Week: 5 (Change: - 43.5%)

The Twilight finale lost 604 theaters in its 5th weekend, placing sixth on the chart, dropping three spots from the previous weekend. Worldwide it has grossed a cool $778,265,000 worldwide.

7. Wreck-It Ralph
Gross: $3,273,000 (Cume: $168,779,000)
Screens: 2,249 (PSA: $1,455)
Week: 7 (Change: - 32.6%)

In its seventh weekend of release, the animated Disney pic only dropped 32.6 per cent after losing 497 theaters. It again placed seventh in the chart. Abroad the pic has cumed $57.7 million.

8. Playing for Keeps
Gross: $3,247,000 (Cume: $10,838,092)
Screens: 2,840 (PSA: $1,143)
Week: 2 (Change: - 43.5%)

Opening in sixth place, the pic added three venues and dropped two slots to eighth. The pic will struggle to stay in the top 10 and will likely not stay in theaters in a significant way as new offerings open.

9. Red Dawn
Gross: $2,394,000 (Cume: $40,889,423)
Screens: 2,250 (PSA: $1,064)
Week: 4 (Change: - 43.5%)

One month out, Red Dawn lost 504 theaters and dropped one spot to 9th place. The pic will struggle to pass $45 million domestically which marks a likely loss considering its $65 million production budget.

10. Silver Linings Playbook
Gross: $2,084,000 (Cume: $16,954,049
Screens: 371 (PSA: $5,617)
Week: 5 (Change: - 4%)

The Oscar hopeful broke the top 10 after flirting with it for a number of weeks. The feature is in comparatively far fewer theaters than its other top 10 brethren and its $5,617 per screen average is only outpaced by The Hobbit, which bowed this weekend. After dropping nearly 30% in each of the last couple weeks, the film only fell a very slight 4% this weekend, showing the title has some solid footing as it heads into the thick of the holidays and a wider expansion likely in the New Year.

Weekend Receipts || ||

'Skyfall' Heads Back To Number 1 In Weak Weekend

'Skyfall' Heads Back To Number 1 In Weak Weekend

Skyfall once again headed to the top spot in the box office over the weekend, grossing $11 million in a weekend that only had one weak showing from a major newcomer, Playing for Keeps. With little momentum behind it, the movie opened with only $6 million. Overall, the top 10 only took in $69.14 million, making it one of the lowest grossing weekends of 2012.

1. Skyfall
Gross: $11 million (Cume: $261.6 million)
Screens: 3,401 (PSA: $3,234)
Week: 5 (Change: - 33.6%)

A weak showing from the only major newcomer Playing for Keeps allowed the latest and most successful Bond installment to move back into number one over the weekend. It is within reach of becoming Sony's highest-grossing film of the year, passing the studio's The Amazing Spider-Man which totaled $262 million. The title is on track to make a final come of $290 million or even $300 million, which would give it bragging rights of over $120 million to $130 million more than the previous 007 record from Quantum of Solace.

2. Rise of the Guardians
Gross: $10,450,000 (Cume: $61,913,574)
Screens: 3 (PSA: $2,896)
Week: 3 (Change: - 21.3%)

Last weekend's number 4 shot up to second this weekend with only a 21 percent drop. The pic has a Christmas connection which should give it momentum through the month, but its total at nearly $62 million may make a $100 million cume a challenge.

3. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part - 2
Gross: $9.2 million (Cume: $268.7 million)
Screens: 3,646 (PSA: $2,523)
Week: 4 (Change: - 47.2%)

The film is now $1.4 million ahead of New Moon at the same point. It dropped two slots to number 3 after placing first for three weeks. The title lost 362 theaters from the previous weekend and its $2,523 average compared to $4,345 one week prior.

4. Lincoln
Gross: $9,115,000 (Cume: $97,335,000)
Screens: 2,014 (PSA: $4,526)
Week: 5 (Change: - 31.9%)

Lincoln lost only four theaters in its fifth weekend. It should pass Argo as the highest grossing film so far among the major Oscar hopefuls. It ranked third last weekend after grossing over $13.5 million. Its $4,526 average was the highest among the top ten titles.

5. Life of Pi
Gross: $8.3 million (Cume: $60,917,529)
Screens: 2,946 (PSA: $2,817)
Week: 3 (Change: - 32%)

Life of Pi again rounded out the top 5 over the weekend, grossing $8.3 million, down 32% from $12 million last weekend. The title added 928 theaters. Overseas, the film has grossed nearly $106 million.

6. Playing for Keeps
Gross: $6 million
Screens: 2,837 (PSA: $2,115)
Week: 1

The marketing effort ahead of its release was kept minimal and the result reflected that. This is star Gerard Butler's second recent bad showing after Chasing Mavericks which has only cumed $5.8 million to date.

7. Wreck-It Ralph
Gross: $4,904,000 (Cume: $164,448,000)
Screens: 2,746 (PSA: $1,786)
Week: 6 (Change: - 29.4%)

The animated pic lost 341 theaters over the weekend, falling one spot to 7th in the rankings. Combined with $51.1 million abroad, the pic has a come of over $215,548,000.

8. Red Dawn
Gross: $4,261,000 (Cume: $37,265,815)
Screens: 2,754 (PSA: $1,547)
Week: 3 (Change: - 34.4%)

Again placing 8th, it dropped a relatively stable 34.4% after dropping 27 theaters.

9. Flight
Gross: $3.13 million (Cume: $86,202,236)
Screens: 2,431 (PSA: $1,288)
Week: 6 (Change: - 30.1%)

The Oscar hopeful starring Denzel Washington lost 172 locations and again placed ninth in the ranking. Worldwide the title has cumed $89,629,680.

10. Killing Them Softly
Gross: $2,784,000 (Cume: $11,807,737)
Screens: 2,424 (PSA: $1,149)
Week: 2 (Change: - 59.7%)

The Brad Pitt starrer placed 7th in its debut and will likely move out of the top 10 after its second weekend. It remained in the same number of theaters as its bow, but dropped a steep 60%. The pic will likely disappear from theaters by Christmas.

[Sources: Rentrak, Box Office Mojo]

The 2-Minute Verdict || ||

Rise of the Guardians Trailer: Santa's Putting a Team Together

Rise of the Guardians (2012)

First things first: Rise of the Guardians is an animated adventure, but it's not a sequel to that owl movie. I know, it's very confusing. What's more, it's about Santa Claus — a brawny, tatted-up Santa who pulls a Sam Jackson and assembles a superteam to fight evil and protect the children of the world. The other fantasy heroes called to duty? The Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman. It's pretty much The Avengers for kids, only I'm willing to bet it'll have a better soundtrack. Hey-oh!
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