This film image released by Warner Bros., shows Ian McKellen as Gandalf in a scene from the fantasy adventure “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” –Photo by AP.

LOS ANGELES: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” a prequel to the blockbuster “Lord of the Rings” series, earned a massive $84.8 million one of the biggest debuts of the year, industry trackers said.

Internationally, the film earned $138.2 million, for a worldwide estimated total of $223 million, including a record-breaking $15.1 million from IMAX theaters worldwide, according to New Line Cinema, which said it was the biggest opening for any “Lord of the Rings” film.

Box office watchers said it was the biggest December opening in motion picture history.

The film stars Martin Freeman of British TV's “Sherlock” fame and Ian McKellen, reprising his role as Gandalf the Grey, and was directed by Peter Jackson based on the classic books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

In second place was “Rise of the Guardians,” a Dreamworks holiday confection featuring Jack Frost, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman and a tattooed Russian Santa Claus, among other unlikely characters. Industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said it earned $7.4 million.

Third place went to “Lincoln” - starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th US president, which earned $7.2 million. The film got a bump after earning seven Golden Globe nominations last week, the most of any film.

“Skyfall,” last week's top film, and the 23rd episode of the spy thriller series, was fourth with $7 million.

The fifth place spot was claimed by “Life of Pi,” a 3D fantasy by Oscar-winning director Ang Lee based on a Booker Prize-winning novel about an Indian boy adrift on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger in the Pacific. It earned $5.4 million.

Vampire saga “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” was sixth with $5.2 million.

“Wreck-It Ralph,” the animated Disney film about a videogame villain aspiring to be a hero, kept the seventh spot, earning $3.27 million.

In eighth place was “Playing for Keeps”, a romantic comedy starring Scottish heartthrob Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Uma Thurman, which took in $3.2 million.

Ninth place went to “Red Dawn,” a new take on a 1984 movie about a group of teenagers who look to save their town from an invasion of North Korean soldiers. It brought in just under $2.4 million.

Rounding out the top 10 was “Silver Linings Playbook” a screwball comedy starring Robert DeNiro that earned $2.1 million.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...