SUNDAY 8:15 AM, 7TH UPDATE: Hollywood has high hopes for this all-important holiday box office now that this is the largest Christmas release of all time. Rival studios knew Peter Jackson's film adaptation of the 1937 JRR Tolkien novel would be one of the monster hits so left this weekendalone. Warner Bros says The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opened to $37.5M Friday and $28.1M Saturday and an estimated $19.1M Sunday for an $84.7M weekend with an 'A' CinemaScore from audiences. There are 
two records shattered ' biggest December Friday and biggest December weekend for the domestic box office. The debut for the 3D actioner from MGM/Warner Bros in 4,045 theaters is grossing much larger than The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Friday's take included a record $13M from 3,100 midnight shows, counting $1.6M on IMAX screens. Exit polling of the audience showed that males made up 57%/females 43%, and that under 25 years old were 42%/over 25 yrs old 58%/under 18 years old 20%. IMAX (included in the overall total) comprised $10.1M from 326 locations. As for market share, 3D comprised 49% and 2D was 51%. The pic based on matinee trends had been on a $113+M fast track for its first U.S.-Canada weekend. But then its business slowed Friday evening no doubt because of its very long 2 hour, 46 minute running time.
It's 
already the #1 movie abroad and has taken in $57M from 56 international markets (18,200 screens) through Friday. My insiders believe it's very possible for the movie to end this weekend with approximately $200M worldwide. Yowza! In the U.S. and Canada, MovieTickets said box office advance tickets for the pic accounted for nearly 91% of sales going into Friday, with nearly 18% coming from those wanting to see the film in standard 3D format, 8% in High Frame Rate 3D, and 7% in IMAX 3D. The record opening for this weekend is I Am Legend's $77m. Remember, all Lords Of The Rings 2D films opened Christmas Week whereas 3D The Hobbit will play to lower openings but huge multiples helped by 3D and IMAX. The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey's production was managed by New Line Cinema with parent company Warner Bros Pictures handling worldwide theatrical distribution. Select international territories (including Scandinavia) as well as all international television distribution was handled by MGM.
In North America, the film is playing in 4,045 theaters, a record number for December. That includes 3,160 3D theaters and 461 theaters in the 48 frames-per-second format. Overseas, The Hobbit is opening in 55 territories on approximately 17,000 screens this weekend (excluding Australia, China and Russia). The pic scored a record opening in New Zealand where it was filmed and which is Jackson's native country, marking the biggest non-holiday debut for a Wednesday.
The Hobbit was digitally re-mastered into IMAX 3D format and a select number of IMAX theatres will be presenting the pic using a higher frame rate (HFR) - presenting the picture in 48 frames per second (fps) which is closer to what the human eye actually sees. This is twice the rate of the standard 24 fps, which is the current format in cinemas worldwide. This use of HFR 3D is the first use of this method in a major motion picture release.
DreamWorks/Fox/Disney's Lincoln passed the $100M mark domestically on Thursday, 34 days from its initial exclusive release in 11 theaters on November 9th. Total moviegoing this weekend should be $130M, which is +13% over last year.
Here's the Top Ten based on weekend estimates:
1. The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey (MGM/WB) NEW [Runs 4,045] PG13
Friday $37.5M, Saturday $28.1M, Weekend $84.7M
2. Rise Of The Guardian (DWA/Par) Week 4 [Runs 3,387] PG
Friday $1.5M, Saturday $3.4M, Weekend $7.4M, Cume $71.3M
3. Lincoln (DreamWorks/Fox/Disney) Week 6 [Runs 2,285] PG13
Friday $1.9M, Saturday $3.2M, Weekend $7.2M, Cume $107.9M
4. Skyfall (Eon/MGM/Sony) Week 6 [Runs 2,924] PG13
Friday $1.8M, Saturday $3.0M, Weekend $7.0M, Cume $272.3M
5. Life Of Pi (Fox) Week 4 [Runs 2,548] PG
Friday $1.3M, Saturday $2.3M, Weekend $5.4M, Cume $69.5M
6. Breaking Dawn Part 2 (Summit/Lionsgate) Week 5 [Runs 3,042] PG13
Friday $1.4M, Saturday $2.2M, Weekend $5.1M, Cume $276.8M
7. Wreck-It Ralph (Disney) Week 7 [Runs 2,249]PG
Friday $702K, Saturday $1.5M, Weekend $3.2M, Cume $168.7M
8. Playing For Keeps (Millenium/FilmDistrict) Week 2 [Runs 2,840] PG13
Friday $1.0K, Saturday $1.3M, Weekend $3.2M (-47%), Cume $10.8
9. Red Dawn (MGM/FilmDistrict) Week 4 [Runs 2,250] PG13
Friday $698K, Saturday $1.0, Weekend $2.3, Cume $40.8
10. Silver Linings Playbook (Weinstein) Week 5 [Runs 371] R
Friday $588K, Saturday $935K, Weekend $2.0M, Cume $17.0M
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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