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BY THE NUMBERS > <strong>2012</strong> HOLIDAY PREDICTIONS<br />
THE HOBBIT:<br />
AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY<br />
WE PREDICT!<br />
OPENING WEEKEND $115M<br />
DOMESTIC GROSS $430M<br />
Distributor Warner Bros.<br />
Cast Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Cate<br />
Blanchett, Orlando Bloom<br />
Director Peter Jackson<br />
Release date December 14<br />
This “prequel” to The Lord of the Rings is finally making<br />
its way to theaters under the stewardship of director Peter<br />
Jackson. Safe box office bets don’t get any safer than<br />
this: the beloved Rings trilogy became a phenomenon by<br />
satiating the hopes of Tolkien fans, attracting mainstream<br />
viewers and critical applause and making Oscar history.<br />
Cast favorites are back to ensure The Hobbit builds upon<br />
the success of its predecessors. The book is a generational<br />
favorite, so moviegoers of all ages will turn out. But it is<br />
this story’s lighter tone that could make it an even more<br />
family-driven event than the Rings series. With the boost<br />
from 3D (which could end up a very attractive option for<br />
this film), the sky is the limit for where The Hobbit will end<br />
up.<br />
MONSTERS, INC.<br />
3D<br />
WE PREDICT!<br />
OPENING WEEKEND $8M<br />
DOMESTIC GROSS $35M<br />
Distributor Pixar/Disney<br />
Cast John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, John<br />
Ratzenberger<br />
Director Pete Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich<br />
Release date December 19<br />
Besides last fall’s The Lion King, 3D re-releases haven’t<br />
generally become huge hits. Pixar itself has seen modest<br />
box office returns from its reruns, so we’re hesitant<br />
to expect anything much different here. In Monsters’<br />
favor, however, is the fact that this releases just in time<br />
for Christmas—a strategy no recent re-release has attempted<br />
to capture. The addition pressure for Pixar is<br />
that with Monsters University opening next summer, the<br />
studio needs to hook a new generation on this decadeold<br />
film. The biggest gamble of all is that Monsters<br />
must contend with The Hobbit for those family audiences,<br />
but as these two are the only kid-friendly releases in<br />
December, there could be just enough room for both to<br />
coexist. Still, we’re hesitant.<br />
58 BOXOFFICE PRO NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
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