If there is anyone that is happy this Christmas, Metro Goldwyn, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema are sure to be a few of them. The last installment of The Hobbit franchise, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, just went over the $550 million mark.
The film made $573.2 million worldwide, making it the top grossing movie during the holiday season. This figure is expected to go higher as the movie is still screening worldwide. It grossed at $168.5 million in North America alone, and continues to dominate the number one spot at the US box office.
"This is a tremendous result so early in our run, especially in this highly competitive holiday season. Together with our partners at MGM and New Line, we are very happy that moviegoers are not only thrilling to this final adventure in 'The Hobbit' Trilogy, but also want to share the experience with their families and friends. Word of mouth and repeat business should lead to continued success as we head into next year," Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution Dan Fellman said.
The worldwide screening earned an estimated $405.1 million and is a blockbuster hit in countries such as Germany ($11.7 million), the United Kingdom ($6.6 million) and France ($6.9 million). The franchise will be released in China on Jan. 23, and is expected to become another blockbuster hit in the country.
"What a wonderful way to end the remarkable 'The Hobbit' Trilogy, as well as our year. We congratulate Peter Jackson and everyone involved in creating this fitting finale, and we anticipate more excellent returns well into 2015 with several territories, including China, yet to come," President of Warner Bros. Pictures International Distribution, Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, said.
The year 2014 has been a really good one for Warner Bros. The company exceeded the $3 billion mark for international box office this year, its second year in a row.
In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it is our great team whose commitment, talent and passion make it possible to maximize the international potential of all of our films, from the smallest gems to the biggest tent poles," Kwan Vandenberg shared in a statement.
