BOX OFFICE: THE HOBBIT Passes $200 Million In North America; DJANGO Moves Up To #2
The latest box office figures for North America reveal that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has now passed $200 million after just 15 days of release. Django Unchained meanwhile has stolen the #2 spot from Les Miserables! Read on for details.
Yesterday, we brought you the surprising news that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey had once again risen to the #1 spot in North America. Well, The Hollywood Reporter now reveals that Django Unchained just managed to beat Les Miserables for the #2 position on Friday. The Quentin Tarantino helmed Spaghetti Western grossed $9.7 million, just $300,000 ahead of Tom Hooper's musical. This is the firs time this has happened since both were released on Christmas Day. It's thought that they will each gross upwards of $28 million this weekend. Meanwhile, @giteshpandya reports that Peter Jackson's return to Middle-Earth gained an additional $10.7 million yesterday to break $200 million domestically in just 15 days. It should hit around $221 million by Monday.
The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic 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, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.
Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.
Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.
STARRING:
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey
Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield
Andy Serkis as Gollum
Hugo Weaving as Elrond
Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug
Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman
Christopher Lee as Saruman the White
Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
Orlando Bloom as Legolas
RELEASE DATE: Out Now!