LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A small hobbit racked up big sales at movie box offices during the weekend, generating an estimated $205 million at theaters around the world with the debut of highly anticipated sequel “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”
The second installment in the 3D “Hobbit” film trilogy earned $73.7 million of its global haul in the United States and Canada, where it easily topped weekend movie charts.
Walt Disney Co’s animated fairy tale “Frozen” took the No. 2 spot, selling $22.2 million worth of tickets from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates from Rentrak, beating new comedy “Tyler Perry’s 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.
