Hobbit stands tall on $96m international hold

By Dec 24 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey stood at $288.5m. Approximately $3.9m of the international weekend haul came from IMAX venues as the large-screen format’s global running total climbed to $29.5m.

The fantasy adventure opened in Russia on $17.8m (Rbl 550m) from 2,115 screens including previews. 3D represented 79% of the total box office.

Germany led the second weekend holdovers following a 6% slide – 11 percentage points or approximately two-thirds less than originally reported on Sunday – that generated $14.2m (€10.8m) from 1,408 for $36.7m (€28.1m).

The UK produced $9.8m (£6m) from 1,546 screens after a 37% slide for $38.4m (£23.9m) and France generated $7m (€5.3m) for $20.8m (€16m). Spain added $4.8m (€3.7m) from 1,010 for $15.1m (€11.6m).

The Hobbit arrives in Australia on Wednesday (26).

Fox 2000’s Life Of Pi continued to dazzle audiences and opened in 35 news markets, grossing $23.2m through Fox International from 6,330 screens in 46 markets overall for a boisterous $160.5m.

The adventure debuted in second place in the UK on $5.8m from 1,074 for Ang Lee’s biggest launch in the market. It arrived in third place in France on $2.9m from 637 behind local comedy Autre Cote Du Periph and The Hobbit. There was a pair of number two launches in Latin America, where Life Of Pi generated $2.2m from 1,074 in Mexico and $1.6m from 404 in Brazil.

The seaborne escapade ranked as the third Hollywood release in Italy after a $918,797 debut in Italy on 250 screens.

With the bulk of Southeast Asia yet to come, Life Of Pi has already made its mark in Asia and stands at $90.3m in China after five weekends and 13.4m in Lee’s native Taiwan, also after five.

DreamWorks Animation’s Rise Of The Guardians added $13.7m from 6,251 cinemas in 60 countries through Paramount Pictures International (PPI) in its sixth weekend as the running total climbed to $142.9m.  

Tom Cruise action thriller Jack Reacher opened in seven markets through PPI and scored $2.5m from 365 screens. It opened in the UAE, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Middle East markets, Hong Kong and in Lebanon and deliver three estimated number one launches.

Sony/MGM/Eon’s Skyfall brought in a further $9m through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) and MGM markets, as the James Bond tale edged his way towards the $700m international mark.

The thriller has reached $694.3m, of which 607.1m comes from SPRI and $87.2m through MGM. Skyfall stands at $159.3m in the UK after nine weekends, $78.9m in Germany after eight and $57.9m in France after nine. Skyfall ranks top in Australia in its fifth weekend and has grossed $42.6m.

Hotel Transylvania added $1.6m from 55 markets to reach $164.6m.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International executives reported that Wreck-It Ralph brought in $7.3m to stand at a relatively early $67.6m internationally and $239.5m worldwide.

Lionsgate International’s The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 added $6.6m for $513.2m and opened in Hong Kong on $980,000 from 40 screens. The Impossible arrived in Mexico on $960,000 from 5000 and debuted in Brazil on $670,000 from 250. The overall running total climbed to $60.2m from 17 markets.

Universal Pictures International (UIP) opened Working Title’s Les Misérables in Japan on $4.2m (¥356m) from 348 sites and reported strong paid previews in South Korea. UIP will report full results for South Korea and Australia and Hong Kong, where the musical also opened to paid previews, along with the official launches.

Les Misérables opens in the US and Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Spain on Dec 25 followed by Australia on Dec 26 and Hungary on Dec 27. Remaining international markets go out in 2013 led by the UK on Jan 11.

Pitch Perfect has reached $20.1m, Anna Karenina $19m, Italian holiday comedy Colpi Di Fulmine $3.5m in Italy after 11 days, ParaNorman $44.4m and $100m worldwide and Ted $284.2m and $502.9m worldwide.