'Hobbit' scorches 'Anchorman 2' at weekend box office

'Anchorman 2' disappoints at weekend box office

I had seen 3-day predictions in the $40s for Anchorman 2, but Mr Burgundy and company managed only a modest $27M, meaning that the news team was unable to wrest the #1 spot from the hobbits.

Disney's Frozen and the star-studded American Hustle finished in a virtual tie for third place that will not be broken until the final numbers are available. They grossed about $19M apiece.

Saving Mr Banks took 5th place, as expected, but underperformed with a gross of only $9 million. Apparently the members of its natural audience (grandmothers?) found other things to do on the weekend before Christmas.

Walking With Dinosaurs took 8th place with $7 million.

Dhoom 3 broke the record for a Bollywood opening in the U.S. with $3.3 million from 236 theaters, a spectacular $14,000 per theater. That's twice as high as the average posted by the new Coen Brothers film, Inside Llewyn Davis, which opened in 148 theaters.

The Hungrier Games passed Despicable Me to become the second-highest domestic grosser of the year. It does not have seem to have enough time to catch Iron Man 3 for first place, but it'll come close. It should finish the year with about $390m, compared to $409 for ol' Ironsnide.