If it's set in Middle-earth, it's going to open at No. 1.

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" was No. 1 at the movie box-office over the weekend.

FilmWeekendPer Screen
1The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug$73,675,000$18,877$73,675,000
2Frozen$22,184,000 (-29.8)$5,970$164,388,000
3A Madea Christmas$16,000,000$7,293$16,000,000
4The Hunger Games: Catching Fire$13,150,000 (-49.8)$3,691$356,982,000
5Thor: The Dark World$2,700,000 (-43.9)
$1,193$198,125,000
6Out of the Furnace$2,320,000 (-55.6)$1,104$9,468,000
7Delivery Man$1,872,000 (-50.0)$917$27,995,000
8Philomena$1,765,000 (-20.0)$2,103$11,019,000
9The Book Thief$1,675,000 (-36.2)$1,446$14,877,000
10Homefront$1,637,000 (-52.3)$778$18,438,000

 

Peter Jackson's latest fantasy adventure opened to $73 million, which is higher than any of the openings for the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy films.

Last year, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" opened with $84 million.

"Frozen" was in second place, with a 29 percent drop to a weekend gross of $22 million. With $164 million in the bank, the animated musical is on track to hit $200 million.

"A Madea Christmas" opened in third place with $16 million.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" continues to perform well a month into its release, grossing $13 million for a $356 million total. In fifth place was "Thor the Dark World," and is now close to $200 million.

"Out of the Furnace" grossed $2 million and "Delivery Man" $1 million.

Other top 10 finishers for the weekend include "Philomena," which has now grossed $11 million; "The Book Thief," with $14 million to date; and "Homefront," with $18 million in box-office receipts since it opened.

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