“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” Hits $1 Billion Mark

Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has broken the $1 billion mark in worldwide earnings at the box office.

The movie was released on Dec. 14th in the states, and has now earned $1,001,134,992 in ticket sales worldwide. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has reached a domestic gross of $301.1 million since its release. “We could not be more proud to have reached this amazing benchmark,” Warner’s president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman said. “Together with our partners at MGM and New Line, everyone at Warner Bros. congratulates Peter Jackson and his entire cast and crew on the extraordinary success of this film.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey stars Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman, among many others, and is the 15th movie is history to earn more than $1 billion at the box office. Other recently released films that have reached that mark include 2012’s “Skyfall” at $1.1 billion, 2011’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” at $1.3 billion, and 2012’s “Marvel’s The Avengers” at $1.5 billion.

“Avatar” still holds the record in worldwide ticket sales. The 2009 smash hit made $2.78 billion, including $760.5 million in domestic sales. The only other film that has grossed more than $2 billion is 1997’s “Titanic,” which made $2.18 billion. Both were directed by James Cameron.

I.M.