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Biz Break || ||

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

'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.
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Newswire || ||

'The Hobbit' Perched Atop The Box Office Again

'The Hobbit' Perched Atop The Box Office Again

Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey surpassed the competition at the box office over the long New Years weekend, outgrossing powerhouse newcomers Django Unchained and Les Misérables in their first full weekends in theaters.

The first installment of the Hobbit trilogy grossed a chart-topping $48.3 million in the Friday to Tuesday holiday period in 4,100 theaters. That was nearly $3.788 million more than the overall box office's runner-up, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, though it should be noted that that title screened in 1,090 fewer theaters. The result is that Django scored the highest per screen average among the top 10, with $14,788 vs. The Hobbit's $11,780. Django grossed $44.513 million over the long weekend.

Fellow Christmas opener Les Misérables took in $41.14 million over the five-day holiday, placing third and a strong $14,620 average.

The Box Office Top 10 with numbers from the New Years Friday - Tuesday holiday:

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Gross: $48,300,511 (Cume: $238,001,325)
Theaters: 4,100 (PSA: $11,780)

2. Django Unchained
Gross: $44,513,232 (Cume: $77,833,497 - Xmas Day Opener)
Theaters: 3,010 (PSA: $14,788)

3. Les Misérables
Gross: $41,140,685 (Cume: $87,579,110 - Xmas Day Opener)
Theaters: 2,814 (PSA: $14,620)

4. Parental Guidance
Gross: $23,667,732 (Cume: $38,456,424 - Xmas Day Opener)
Theaters: 3,367 (PSA: $7,029)

5. Jack Reacher
Gross: $21,262,535 (Cume: $51,815,693)
Theaters: 3,352 (PSA: $6,343)

6. This Is 40
Gross: $18,678,740 (Cume: $42,609,030)
Theaters: 2,914 (PSA: $6,410)

7. Lincoln
Gross: $12,122,623 (Cume: $136,652,420)
Theaters: 1,966 (PSA: $6,166)

8. The Guilt Trip
Grosss: $10,424,431 (Cume: $24,834,787)
Theaters: 2,431 (PSA: $4,288)

9. Monsters, Inc.
Gross: $9,831,867 (Cume: $21,958,331)
Theaters: 2,618 (PSA: $2,463)

10. Rise of the Guardians
Gross: $7,644,497 (Cume: $92,891,627)
Theaters: 2,055 (PSA: $2,381)

[Source: Box Office Mojo]

Biz Break || ||

'Skyfall' Crosses $1 Billion: Biz Break

'Skyfall' Crosses $1 Billion: Biz Break

The 23rd installment of James Bond became one of only a little over a dozen to score $1 billion worldwide. Also in Wednesday's round-up of news, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey crossed a milestone of its own; Silver Linings Playbook snatches European awards; China's Lost in Thailand marks a record at home.
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The Movieline Interview || ||

INTERVIEW: 'Hobbit' Screenwriter Philippa Boyens Won't Read 'The Silmarillion' Again Because It Will 'Break My Heart'

MARTIN FREEMAN as Bilbo Baggins in New Line Cinema’s and MGM's fantasy adventure “THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings screenwriter Philippa Boyens is back for another romp in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth playground with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and she recently sat down with Movieline to talk about the fantasy novel's adaptation to the screen. more »

Talkback || ||

Spoiler Talk: The Pity of Bilbo And Where Jackson & Co. Chose To End 'The Hobbit'

Spoiler Talk: The Pity of Bilbo And Where Jackson & Co. Chose To End 'The Hobbit'

Given the behind the scenes false starts that seemed to plague the production of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journeylawsuits, studio bankruptcy, a change in directors — it's perhaps a tad ironic that beginning the story of Lord of the Rings before the story of Lord of the Rings was never a problem. No, for Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, the power troika behind the flick, beginning an episodic, rollicking, children's adventure story cum three-film epic was the easy part. Deciding where to end, however...
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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.

The Movieline Interview || ||

Richard Armitage Talks 'Hobbit' And Thorin Oakenshield, Takes A Phone Call From Sauron

Richard Armitage Talks 'Hobbit' And Thorin Oakenshield, Takes A Phone Call From Sauron

Standing well over 6' tall, with an athletic frame and impeccably coiffed hair, Richard Armitage the silhouette screams matinee idol, which makes it all the more impressive that Richard Armitage the person screams "Dwarf!"

But, then, this isn't your older brother's axe wielding, pipe smoking, occasionally tossed comic relief.

As Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of a band of not so merry dwarves looking to reclaim their ancestral homeland from the ravages of the dragon Smaug in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Armitage takes his first bold, steely-eyed, heroic steps into the world of Middle Earth, embodying with method exactness the badass anti-hero of J.R.R. Tolkien's original.

Before that, though… a little bit of fun. Armitage recently sat down with Movieline in New York City where he revealed the physicality of being a dwarf, his facility for speaking in tongues, his hard fought battle scars, and the number one reason you should always answer an interrupting telephone.
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Biz Break || ||

'The Hobbit' Tracking $70 Million-Plus At Weekend Box Office: Biz Break

'The Hobbit' Tracking $70 Million-Plus At Weekend Box Office: Biz Break

Peter Jackson's initial Hobbit is looking to match its Lord of the Rings brethren. Also in Wednesday's news round-up, Joel Edgerton is eyeing to star in next Natalie Portman pic; Andy Samberg is set to take on the Spirit Awards; Top Gun is flying toward IMAX; and Hobbit mock-buster gets a new title.

The Hobbit Tracking for $70 Million Opening
Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey looks like it will take in $70 million-plus at the box office this weekend, putting the 3-D pic on par with the Lord of the Rings franchise. On the same weekend in 2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King opened to $72.6 million in North America, THR reports.

Joel Edgerton Eyes Jane Got a Gun
Edgerton is in talks to join the Lynne Ramsey-directed Western action pic Jane Got a Gun, which stars Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender. The film revolves around Jane Hammond (Portman), who reaches out to her ex-lover (Fassbender) to help her when her outlaw husband becomes the target of a violent gang, Deadline reports.

Andy Samberg to Host 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards
The Saturday Night Live veteran will host the 28th annual event in February, which honors the best in the indie film world. The 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards will take place in Santa Monica on February 23rd, LAT reports.

Top Gun Aims for IMAX in 3-D
The 1986 Tom Cruise feature has been remastered in 3-D, which the late director Tony Scott supervised. Top Gun will head back to the big screen for a six-day IMAX engagement beginning February 8th followed by the latest Blu-ray release in a 3D/2D two-disc set coming February 19, Deadline reports.

Age of the Hobbits Set for Cambodian Release Under New Title
Backers of the mock-buster who were stopped by a Federal judge Monday from releasing their film with the title saying it could be confused with Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will now release the pic under the title, The History of Mankind in its native Cambodia, THR reports.

Watch This || ||

And Now For A 'Hobbit' Musical Interlude: The Dwarves Sing

And Now For A 'Hobbit' Musical Interlude: The Dwarves Sing

Why yes, there are musical numbers in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which hurtles into theaters this week. Alas, none of them are eligible for the Oscars' Best Song category, though I'd love to see Richard Armitage, AKA Thorin Oakenshield, face off against Katy Perry and Adele on that Academy Awards stage. Listen to Thorin and his not-so-merry band of dwarves prepare for peril with a solemn ditty in a clip from The Hobbit.
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Biz Break || ||

Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit' Will Be The Only Hobbit In Theaters: Biz Break

Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit' Will Be The Only Hobbit In Theaters: Biz Break

Warner Bros. won its lawsuit against mock-buster Age of the Hobbits. Also in Tuesday's news round-up, Amy Adams will be feted for The Master; Tim Buckley feature is heading to U.S. theaters; Disney will adapt Dolphin pic for a feature; and Gus Van Sant is lending his name for the U.S. release of acclaimed Laurence Anyways.

Warner Bros. Triumphs in Hobbit Mock-buster Case
A federal judge granted Warner Bros., MGM and others a restraining order against mock-buster Age of The Hobbits, saying the victory over Global Asylum's "cynical business model." Global had planned a to release a parallel pic, Age of the Hobbit against Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Deadline reports.

Amy Adams to Receive Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Cinema Vanguard Award
The three-time Oscar-nominated actress will be presented the events's prize January 31st. Adams is a contender for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the wife of a cult leader in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, THR reports.

Greetings From Tim Buckley Heads to U.S. Theaters
Directed by Dan Algrant, the Toronto Film Festival feature explores two generations of musicians, Tim and Jeff Buckley. Penn Badgley plays Jeff Buckley as a young musician who rehearses his public singing debut at a Brooklyn tribute to his father and struggling to come to terms with his legacy with the help of an unlikely woman at the show. While they discover each other and New York City, the film also explores Tim’s (Mr. Rosenfield) 1960s heyday, as he drives cross-country with a girlfriend and finds himself on the verge of stardom. Tribeca Film will distribute the pic with Focus World, a subsidiary of Focus Features.

Disney to Adapt Dolphin Boy Feature
The studio secured rights to the Israeli documentary, which revolves around a teenager from an Arab village in northern Israel who is traumatized from a violent attack and slowly recovers with the help of dolphins. The Bucket List writer Justin Zackham will write the script for Disney, Variety reports.

Gus Van Sant Joins Xavier Dolan's Laurence Anyways in U.S. Release
Van Sant's Promised Land is gathering some Oscar buzz, but he'll lend his name as executive producer to acclaimed young Quebecois filmmaker Xavier Dolan's third Cannes title, Laurence Anyways as it heads out to U.S. screens in 2013. Set in the '90s, Laurence Anyways is the tale of a young couple and the difficult decisions they must face after the man decides to start living his life as a woman. 

The Movieline Interview || ||

'The Hobbit''s Andy Serkis: '48 Frames Per Second Brings Immersive Experience'

'The Hobbit''s Andy Serkis: '48 Frames Per Second Brings Immersive Experience'

The world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in New Zealand last week may have caught the attention of an entire nation and a good chunk of the world's press, but the 166 minute feature's New York premiere nevertheless turned into a lively event Friday night at the Ziegfeld Theater in Midtown. Peter Jackson, fittingly, kicked off the festivities introducing much of the cast, including Sir Ian McKellen (in fact there were a lot of "Sirs" Thursday night including Jackson himself), Martin Freeman, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and many of the dwarfs.
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Newswire || ||

No One's Heaving At 'The Hobbit' According To Warner Bros.

No One's Heaving At 'The Hobbit' According To Warner Bros.

The Hobbit doesn't make you heave, according to Warner Bros.   The studio behind the first film in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings prequel trilogy is batting down reports that the the high-frame rate of the picture caused nausea and dizziness for some fans who saw early screenings of the picture in New Zealand. more »

Awards || ||

'The Hobbit' 3-D Early Review: Back Again, But Not Quite There

'The Hobbit' 3-D Early Review: Back Again, But Not Quite There

As beloved and popular as J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit has been in the seventy plus years since its publication, the simple adventure story has never been much more than prologue, a light and sunny rain compared to the epic hurricane force of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, the transformative high fantasy quest narrative which C.S. Lewis once said contained "beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron."

The worst thing that could be said about Peter Jackson's fourth cinematic foray into Middle Earth, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is that it follows suit, being merely good when greatness was anticipated or expected. more »

Watch This || ||

Peter Jackson Still Working On 'The Hobbit' As New Clip Appears

Peter Jackson Still Working On 'The Hobbit' As New Clip Appears

December 14th is the day when Peter Jackson will unleash the first of his Hobbit films, but that doesn't mean it's practically in the can. Jackson is bunkering down in the Park Road Post Production facility in Wellington, New Zealand to finish up the first in the trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

"It's due to be completed literally two days before the premiere. Hopefully," Jackson comments in the film’s latest production video (below). "You're going to see a lot of sleep-deprived people in this blog — everybody’s working around the clock to get the film finished."

The behind the scenes look shows Jabez Olssen and Jackson editing the film, final construction of hundreds of CGI shots and working on sound effects for the feature which stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Cate Blachett and Elijah Wood.

"We’ve got another three weeks...and then another couple films,” Jackson said. “The journey’s long from over, it’s just really starting."

Meanwhile, a new clip from the film also rolled out. The scene shows Gandalf (Ian McKellen) giving a magical sword to Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman). It's rather quick and Gandalf seems to forewarn of its pending need.

Peter Jackson interview:

First clip:

[Sources: Wired, The Film Stage]

Newswire || ||

'Hobbit' Producers Angered By 'Age Of The Hobbits' Mockbuster

'Hobbit' Producers Angered By 'Age Of The Hobbits' Mockbuster

The people behind The Hobbit are no fans of what they perceive as imitators. Warner Bros., New Line Cinema and MGM as well as Hobbit producer Saul Zaentz are taking backers of low-budget pic Age of the Hobbits for trademark infringement.
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