It was a desolation indeed at the Box Office as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug obliterated the Competition in its debut for Warner Bros.! Bringing-in $73.6 million from 3,903 theatres, the second instalment in The Hobbit Trilogy debuted below its Predecessor, which opened last December with $84 million. Critics respected it, giving it a decent 74% on Rotten Tomatoes‘ Tomatometer and it garnered an A-Â CinemaScore from Audiences. Â This makes the Film the fourth-highest December opening of all time – the Record of course was set by the first in the Trilogy.
In its fourth week out, Disney’s Frozen still is  solid in second with $22.8 million, gaining lots of word-of-mouth in a time when there are few Family options in theatres. In its run, it has grossed $166 million already.
Although other Films in its Franchise have fared better, Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas debuts in third with $16 million from 2,194 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. The highest debut in the Madea Series of Films still is 2009’s Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail which opened with $41 million. Â The Audience gave it an A- CinemaScore despite a 20% from Critics on the Tomatometer.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire certainly hasn’t been forgotten, in fourth spot with $14 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. To date it has earned $357 Â million domestically in its Run.
In a distant fifth is Thor: The Dark World with $3 million for Disney/Marvel. It is about to surpass the $200-million mark in North America in this its sixth week.
Philomena may have received a bit of a boost with Judi Dench getting a Best Actress in a Drama nod at the Golden Globe Nominations this week, in eighth spot with $1 million from only 835 theatres.
Bubbling-under are America Hustle, which opens wide next week, earning a healthy $690k from only six theatres as a Sneak Preview, and fellow Oscar Contender Saving Mr. Banks earned $421k from only 15 theatres.
After settling for second spot last weekend, Disney‘s Oscar-buzzed Animated Feature, Frozen advances to the top of the Box Office this chilly weekend with $31.6 million from 3,742 theatres across North America. Â After debuting in second last week the Film voiced by Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel initially was behind The Hunger Games: Catching Fire at the start of the weekend, but Moviegoing traffic from Families drove its numbers up Saturday and Sunday. Â In two weeks, it has grossed $134 million.
After two record-setting weeks on-top, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire slips to second spot this weekend with $27 million from 4,163 theatres. Â In three weeks, it has earned over $336 million for eOne Films and Lionsgate Films.
Opening on a less-than-ideal weekend, Christian Bale‘s latest Drama, Out of the Furnace debuts in third spot with $5.3 million for Open Road Films and VVS Films. Audiences gave the violence-driven Film an C+ CinemaScore, while Critics were about on-par with a 55% tallied on the Tomatometer.
Thor: The Dark World still continues to go well in fourth with $4.7 million, now in its fifth week in theatres. It is nearing-in on the $200 mark and likely will surpass that shortly for Disney. Â This places it ahead of fifth-place finisher Delivery Man also from Disney, with $3.8 million.
Homefront remains in sixth place again this weekend for VVS Films and Open Road Films, with $3.2 million this weekend. eOne Films/The Weinstein Co.’s Philomena continues to go well in limited release with $3.2 million in ninth spot this weekend based on its Oscar buzz. Black Nativity rounds-out-onto the Top Ten with $889k for Fox Searchlight.
A big weekend ahead is expected for Warner Bros. as they release their  Blockbuster The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug next weekend.
The beautiful Evangeline Lilly received a Heroine’s welcome home today as the Actress is in-town promoting The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug as Tauriel, the Woodland Elf. Her Character was specifically written into the Film by The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Helmer Peter Jackson. Best known for her work in long-running Series LOST as Kate Austen, she has starred also in Academy Award-winning Best Picture, The Hurt Locker, and more recently Box Office Hit, Real Steel opposite Hugh Jackman.
The Actress did various Television Stop-offs earlier this morning including CITY‘s Breakfast Television were Fans were delighted by her illuminating smile and such was the case where more Fans and Photographers were in awe of her beauty outside Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) Studios!  Lilly claims her biggest struggle filming the Movie was dealing her “Mommy Brain”, getting back into the flow of work after delivering her Baby Kahekili mid-2011.
Watch her Interview with Kris Reyes and Rosey Edeh below:
Billy and I were lucky enough to get a Snap with the Alberta-born, British Columbia-raised Star who was gracious to take a few moments of her hectic day to greet Fans. Â “You want me to take a Pic with your Dog?” she asked me, “Of course!”.
See our Snap:
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada releases The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug on Friday, December 13, 2013.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong | Video credit: Shaw Media)
After a massively successful run at the Box Office, grossing over a billion dollars worldwide, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey brings to the Big Screen R.R. Tolkien’s epic Adventure, following the journey of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who is swept into an amazing quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome Dragon Smaug. Approached out-of-the-blue by the Wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen Dwarves led by the legendary Warrior, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Their Journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.
From Academy Award®-winning Filmmaker Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is the first of a Trilogy of Films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Double your chances by sharing the Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:
http://mrwillwong.com/hobbitgiveaway @MRWILLW wants me to #win a #THEHOBBIT Blu-ray Combo Pack. In-stores 3/19/13! #Giveaway
All are welcome to enter and your deadline is Thursday, March 21, 2013.
Let’s celebrate the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey by checking-out this super-fun Application below which includes an Are You 100% Hobbit? Quiz, a Handbook and Stats!:
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See the official Artwork below:
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 Watch the Trailer here.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits stores tomorrow via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in both Standard and Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Combo Pack. Order it here!
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(Photo credit: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
Jessica Chastain, Box Office Queen. The Best Actress Frontrunner in record time has gone from obscurity straight to the top, occupying both the top two spots at the Box Office this weekend with Mama and Zero Dark Thirty. The former, produced by Guillermo del Toro and filmed in Toronto, earns $28.1 million from 2,647 theatres for Universal Pictures/eOne Films, securing its place at the top, while the latter nabs second spot with $17.6 million. Zero Dark Thirty to date has grossed $59 million for Sony Pictures/Alliance Films domestically. Mama‘s performance bodes well for the City as a destination for filming, proving we have the resources to make a top-placing Film. Critics gave it generally positive reviews, garnering 63% on the Tomatometer. 2011 Horror Flick Dream House from Universal Pictures/eOne Films, filmed in the City, didn’t fare quite as well critically and commercially. Mama Star Nickolaj Coster-Waldau was recently in Toronto. Find out how to win a Photo signed by him here.
After a bit of dawdling, Silver Linings Playbook gets its due success in its tenth week of release, expanding to 2,523 theatres, earning $11.3 million for The Weinstein Co./Alliance Films – good enough for third. This undoubtedly was aided by both its recent Golden Globes exposure with Jennifer Lawrence winning Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and also its Best Picture Nomination for the Oscars.
Gangster Squad performs steadily in fourth with $9.1 million in its second week for Warner Bros, just ahead of Broken City, starring Russell Crowe and Mark Wahlberg, debuting in fourth with $9 million. The Action-Drama earned a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.
Debuting at number two last week, Horror Spoof A Haunted House slips to sixth this weekend with $8.3 million for Open Road Films. The Film which parodies Paranormal Activity and The Devil Inside, opens in Canada next Friday via VVS Films.
Meanwhile, Oscar Contenders Django Unchained and Les Misérables are still performing respectably thanks to the Oscars and Golden Globes boost, placing them seventh with $8.2 million and eighth with $7.8 million respectively. Former three-week Champ The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey earns $6.4 million for Warner Bros.
Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s return to the Big Screen wasn’t so heroic, opening in tenth with $6 million. Critics however, weren’t all too disapproving as it earned mixed Reviews at best with 56% on the Tomatometer.
Huge numbers for Zero Dark Thirty which in a perfectly-timed expansion to 2,937 theatres just one day after Oscar Nominations were announced, earns $24 million for Sony Pictures/Alliance Films. The intense Drama about the successful capture of Osama bin Laden, to date has earned $31 million after two v. successful weeks in Limited Release. Reviews equally are solid with it earning a stellar 92% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. Many are seeing this latest Effort from Oscar-winning Director Kathryn Bigelow as a legitimate contender to win Best Picture next month.
A Haunted House opens in 2,160 theatres south of the border for Open Road Films, earning $17.5 million and opening in second.  The Horror-Comedy stars Marlon Wayans and spoofs Found-Footage Horrors like Paranormal Activity and The Devil Inside and has yet to be released in Canada. Critics as expected, ripped the Film to shreds, earning a paltry 10% on the Tomatometer, but Users overwhelmingly gave it an 85% rating and Cinemascore gave it a B- rating; not bad.
After delays, Mobster Drama Gangster Squad debuts respectably in third with $17 million from 3,103 theatres. Made for $75 million, the slick-looking Film boasts a stellar Cast including Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Giovanni Ribisi and Emma Stone. Although Critics had their opinions about the Movie, Audiences responded well and it gets a B+ Cinemascore.
Still going strong after a Christmas release, Django Unchained lands in fourth this week for The Weinstein Co./Alliance Films, earning $14.5 million. Just nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, that news likely helped propel Moviegoers into the theatres this weekend. It already has earned over $125 million domestically.
Les Misérables, like Django Unchained, continues to get a push from its Oscar Nomination for Best Picture, earning $9.5 million in its third week. Above this, its Soundtrack is performing exceedingly-well on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart, currently the number one-selling Album in North America.
The Hobbit in its fifth week lands in sixth with $9 million – to date earning $277 million domestically. This places it just ahead of Disney‘s Lincoln which earns a v. solid $6.3 million in its tenth week.
Last week’s Champ, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D is unable to maintain its dominance, slipping to number eighth this weekend with $5.5 million after debuting on-top. Paramount Pictures’ Jack Reacher rounds-out the Top Ten with $5 million.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D murders the competition this weekend at the Box Office, kicking-off with a bang on Friday night with $10.2 million. Although slipping noticeably throughout the weekend, the Horror Remake starring Alexandra Daddario and Trey Songz still lands on-top with $23 million for Lionsgate Films/VVS Films, from 2.654 theatres across North America. Rising Star Daddario recently was in Toronto and we caught-up with her. Click here for more.
After menacing in second last weekend Django Unchained still is going strong in its third week with $20.1 million for The Weinstein Co./Alliance Films, keeping The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey behind in third with $17.5 million for Warner Bros., after a successful three weeks in-a-row at number one.
Les Misérables slips to fourth this weekend with $16.1 million, for Universal Pictures, at once surpassing the $100 mark domestically.
Parental Guidance meanwhile still continues to hang-on top the Top Five after a valiant fight, earning $10.1 million this weekend, giving Moviegoers some much-needed funny fare aside from some of the heavier-hearted options out right now.
Judd Apatow‘s This is 40 meanwhile continues to perform steadily, landing in seventh with $8.6 million, closing-in on the $60 million mark, keeping Best Picture Contender Lincoln at bay with $5.2 million in eighth.
Despite a relatively quiet promotional campaign, Gus Van Sant‘s latest Promised Land enters quietly in tenth with $4.6Â million. Its Script was penned by its Stars, Matt Damon and John Krasinski.
Bubbling under, The Impossible, based on true story of a Family which survived 2004‘s devastating Tsunami while on vacation in Thailand, debuts in ninth spot with $2.76 million from 572 theatres and is set to expand next week to bigger numbers. Naomi Watts is expected to gain an Oscar nomination Thursday for her powerful performance as Maria Belon in the Film from Focus Features/eOne Films.
Best Picture Frontrunner Zero Dark Thirty, which stars the currently-on-Broadway Jessica Chastain is seeing an enormous amount of buzz for in the Oscars Race, earning an impressive $2.75 in just 60 theatres! The Drama about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, finally sees a wide release next Friday.
Although they kicked-off with a bang on Christmas Day, neither  Les Misérables nor Django Unchained could unseat The Hobbit from the throne on this final weekend of 2012 and believe me, the latter came close. The first installment of the Peter Jackson Trilogy earns $31.5 million this weekend in North America from 4,100 theatres and worldwide it already has grossed over $600 million for Warner Bros.
Quentin Tarantino‘s latest Opus, Django Unchained, debuts in second with $31 million for The Weinstein Co. and Alliance Films, already being touted potentially as the Auteur Filmmaker’s highest-grossing Film ever. With final numbers still come in, it is quite possible we might see a reverse in the order of finish tomorrow with this over-performing Oscar Contender on-top. Since Christmas Day, the Action/Thriller/Western/Drama was earned a stellar $64 million. Critics in addition to audiences are loving the Flick, earning a stellar 89% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.
Tom Hooper‘s Les MisĂ©rables started strong on Christmas Day earning $18 million, tailing-off a little since, but the $61 million Musical from Universal Pictures still performs exceedingly well in third with $27.4 million. With overall positive reviews at 72% on the Tomatometer, audiences worldwide are responding and in only a few days, it has grossed $68 million domestically.
Parental Guidance might not have gotten great reviews (17% on Rotten Tomatoes), but the Holiday–Comedy opens with $14.4million this weekend for 20th Century Fox in fourth, landing just a head of Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise, in fifth with $14 million in its second week.
This is 40 gave Moviegoers a more lighthearted option this Christmas and gets rewarded with $12.5 million this weekend, already surpassing its production cost of $35 million in two weeks of release.
Meanwhile, Disney‘s Lincoln still is going strong in its eighth week with $7.5 million from 1,966 theatres at seventh spot. Rise of the Guardians in its fifth week rounds-out the Top Ten with $5 million from Paramount Pictures.
For a second week in-a-row, Warner Bros.’ The Hobbit maintains its dominance at the Box Office, bringing-in $36.7 million from 4,100 theatres. In its two week run so far domestically it has earned $145.2 million and despite a significant drop this weekend, it still is far and clear ahead of the competition.
Tom Cruise shows that he definitely still has what it takes to draw a crowd, with Paramount Pictures’ Novel Series Adaptation Jack Reacher earning a respectable $15.6 million in its debut from 3,352 theatres. Critics had generally positive things to say about the Film, tallying-in at 69% at Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.
Judd Apatow‘s Knocked-Up sorta Sequel This is 40 opens in 2,912 theatres this weekend in third with $12 million for Universal Pictures. Reviews unfortunately have been mixed for the Comedy starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, garnering only 49% on the Tomatometer.
Rise of the Guardians still is going strong in fourth with $5.9 million for Paramount Pictures, landing ahead of Disney‘s Lincoln with $5.6 million in fifth.
Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand on paper seemed like an amazing idea, but Mother-Son Comedy The Guilt Trip which perhaps would’ve better been saved for a Mother’s Day release than the already crowded Holiday slate.  It earns $5.4 million in its opening also for Paramount Pictures, good enough for sixth.
Experiencing a slip this weekend is former Champ Skyfall with $4.7 million in eighth, while The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 rounds out the Top Ten in its sixth week with $2.6 million. Meanwhile, Oscar Frontrunner Zero Dark Thirty, which is set for a January wide release, opens limited in five theatres, grossing an impressive $410k from. Keep a tab on this one as big things are expected from Director Kathryn Bigelow.
There is nothing dwarf-like at all about the success of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which debuts with $85 million this weekend across North America in 4,045 theatres for Warner Bros. The Peter Jackson Fantasy Flick also sets a Box Office record for highest December weekend and biggest December opening ever (Friday – $37.5 million) and also sets a record for highest opening ever in December.
Last week’s Champ Skyfall slips to second this weekend with $7.1 million, neck-in-neck with Rise of the Guardian earning $7.0 million in third.
Disney‘s Lincoln continues to perform impeccably in fourth with $6.7 million, now it its sixth week of release. The Historical Drama no doubt got a boost from Thursday’s Golden Globe nomination announcements, where it led the way a smashing seven nominations.
Not much particularly earth-shattering on the bottom end of this weekend’s Top Ten as Wreck-It Ralph lands in seventh with $3.2 million for Disney, while Playing for Keeps earns $3 million in eighth. TIFF 2012 People’s Choice Winner Silver Linings Playbook, which received three Golden Globe nominations earlier this week, rounds things out with $2.0 million.
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