Topping the weekend box office with an estimated $73.7 million, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [HOBT2] fell short of the record $84.6 million debut by The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey last year. The fantasy sequel attracted the Tolkein fanbase that was 60% male.
Last weekend's champ Frozen [FROZE] slipped to second at $22.2 million. The disney animated film has earned $164.4 million.
A Mdea Christmas [MADCH] debuted in third place with $16.2 million, the lowest opening in Tyler Perry's franchise.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [HGAM2] took in $13.2 million to bring its total to $357.0 million after 4 weekends.
| Rank | TITLE | F-S-S | TOTAL |
| 1 | THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG | $73,675,000 | $73,675,000 |
| 2 | FROZEN | $22,184,000 | $164,388,000 |
| 3 | A MADEA CHRISTMAS | $16,160,000 | $16,160,000 |
| 4 | THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE | $13,150,000 | $357,000,000 |
| 5 | THOR: THE DARK WORLD | $2,700,000 | $198,125,000 |
| 6 | OUT OF THE FURNACE | $2,320,000 | $9,468,462 |
| 7 | DELIVERY MAN | $1,872,000 | $27,995,000 |
| 8 | PHILOMENA | $1,756,000 | $11,018,978 |
| 9 | THE BOOK THIEF | $1,675,000 | $14,876,800 |
| 10 | HOMEFRONT | $1,637,000 | $18,437,869 |
| 11 | DALLAS BUYERS CLUB | $1,129,592 | $14,159,276 |
| 12 | THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY | $1,004,980 | $68,968,985 |
Tag(s): HOBT2, FROZE, MADCH, HGAM2