Hobbit Sets December Box Office Record

The Peter Jackson directed film “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” opened the holiday season  weekend with $84.8 million, setting a new recorder for the top three-day opening of all time for the month of December. Will Smith’s “I Am Legend” opened the same weekend in 2007, previously held the record with $77.2 million.

“Hobbit”, the film, was based on the 1937 novel by J.R.R Tolkein’s and is set 60 years before the events of “The Lord of the Rings”. Among movie goers, 58 percent were over the age of 25 and 57 percent were males. “The Lord of the Rings” opened in theaters in 2003 with a five day debut of $124.1 million including a weekend opening of about $72 million.

326 Imax theaters made up the top 10 locations for “Hobbit”, generating $10.1 million in ticket sales. Imax screens playing the 48 frames-per second format generated $44,000 per location.

The film starred Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, and Ian McKellen who returns as wizard Gandalf. “Hobbit” is the first in the planned trilogy by Peter Jackson.

Shanika Simmons