#BOXOFFICE: “THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG” CONTINUES TO DOMINATE BOX OFFICE THROUGH CHRISTMAS

Incredible!  For the third week in-a-row, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug tops the North American Box Office, albeit narrowly with $29.9 million for Warner Bros., placing it just ahead of the stalwart Frozen in second with $28.8 million for Disney.  The former has earned over $190 million now in its domestic run, while the latter in five weeks has grossed $247 million.

Anchorman 2 in its second week finds itself in third spot with $20.2 million for Paramount Pictures, already earning $85.3 million.

American Hustle in its second week of wide expansion to 2,507 theatres, earns $19.6 million for Sony Pictures/eOne Films for a two-week total of $60.4 million.

Martin Scorcese‘s The Wolf of Wall Street after opening on Christmas Day, earns $18.5 million this weekend for Paramount Pictures from 2,537 theatres. Since its opening, it has grossed $35 million – not at all bad considering its R-rating. Critics gave the Film based on the Memoir by Jordan Belfort, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, a 76% rating on the Tomatometer. Audiences surprisingly gave it only a C CinemaScore.

Saving Mr. Banks plays in 2,110 theatres for Disney and earns $14 million this weekend, a two-week total of $37.8 million domestically.

Also opening on Christmas Day, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty opens in sixth with $13 million from 2,110 theatres this weekend for 20th Century Fox.  The Film received some mixed reviews with 57% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a much more promising B+ CinemaScore.

47 Ronin opened in 2,689 theatres across North America on Christmas Day for Universal Pictures, garnering $9.8 million.  Audiences gave it a B+ CinemaScore, while Critics were far less forgiving  on the Action-Adventure starring Keanu Reeves, only 17% on the Tomatometer.

Grudge Match rounds-out the Top Ten with $7.3 million from 2,838 theatres for Warner Bros., also opening on Christmas Day. The Boxing-Comedy starring Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNiro didn’t receive critical love with 21% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences enjoyed it much more with a B+ CinemaScore.