Only 17 films have reached the $1 billion mark globally and The Hobbit’s sequel is still in the running. PHOTO: FILE
The second instalment in the 3D Hobbit film trilogy earned $73.7 million of its global haul in the US and Canada, where it topped weekend movie charts.
Walt Disney Co’s animated fairy-tale Frozen took the second spot, selling $22.2 million worth of tickets from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates from Rentrak, beating new comedy A Madea Christmas, which was third with $16 million.
The Hobbit grossed $131.2 million in 49 international markets from Wednesday, according to distributor Warner Bros.
Fans turned out in force for the second of three movies based on the 1937 classic J R R Tolkien novel set in the fantasy world of Middle Earth. The film follows the hobbit Bilbo Baggins and a band of 13 dwarves on an epic quest that leads them to a clash with the fire-breathing dragon, Smaug.
While the film missed some pre-weekend projections for a domestic opening around $80 million and fell short of the first film’s $84.6 million debut a year ago, box office analysts noted that the Hobbit opened in a more competitive marketplace than the earlier film did.
“The fact that The Desolation of Smaug faced more competition than An Unexpected Journey is notable,” said Jeff Bock, senior box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co. “Considering the original didn’t have one film that grossed over $10 million when it debuted while the sequel faced off against three films that topped that mark.”
Analysts said any shortfall in domestic totals will be offset by a big international showing. “This second instalment is poised for another run at $1 billion globally,” Bock added.
Only 17 films have reached that mark, according to the Box Office Mojo website, including the first movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2013.
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Saw it in IMAX 3D. Some of the scenes were absolutely startling. But its run time made it boring in the end. Also Smaug was turned out to be quite boring.