December 25, 2014 - 15:51 AMT
“Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies” crosses $100mln at U.S. box office

Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” has wound up its first week in U.S. theaters by crossing the $100 million milestone, Variety reports.

Tuesday, Dec 23 grosses for the finale of the New Line-MGM “Hobbit” trilogy totaled $9.8 million, lifting “Five Armies” to $107.9 million.

That’s a faster pace than last year’s “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” which took in $96 million in its first week in the U.S. on its way to a domestic total of $258 million. Though it’s not as fast 2012’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” which grossed $113 million in its first week and finished with $303 million in the U.S.

“Five Armies” is the third movie to pass $100 million in the U.S. in a week this year following Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” which grossed $168.7 million in its opening week, and Disney-Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” with $134.4 million its first week.

“Five Armies” is expected to lead the four-day Christmas weekend in the U.S. with about $30 million to $35 million, followed by Disney’s opening of “Into the Woods.”