“The Hobbit” tops $1 billion milestone at worldwide box office March 4, 2013 - 10:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - It's official, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has surpassed the billion dollar milestone at the worldwide box office, TheWrap said. To date, the blockbuster has earned $301.4 million domestically. With its recent release in China, where it has grossed $37.3 million in 10 days, the film has earned an estimated $700 million internationally, for a global total of $1 billion to date. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” becomes only the 15th film to achieve the box office milestone. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" is the only other adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novels to break the $1 billion barrier. It grossed more than $1.1 billion when it was released in 2003, although it did so without the benefit of 3D. Despite having lighter source material (one book to the "Lord of the Ring"s' three), "The Hobbit" will spawn two more sequels -- "The Desolation of Smaug" and "There and Back Again," which will hit theaters over the next two years. "Smaug" is set to open later this year on Dec. 13, and last Friday, Warner Bros. pushed back the release of “There and Back Again” to Dec. 17, 2014. It had been set to open on July 18 of that year. Partner news  Top stories Oldman made his directorial debut in 1997 with the critically-acclaimed family drama "Nil by Mouth." Yuri Shevchukexpressed a wish to meet representatives of the Armenian rock, noting it as one of the key goals of his visit. The Hunger Games star joins a cast featuring John Malkovich, Ben Kingsley, Michael Sheen and Teresa Palmer. 100 officers raided businesses, homes and art galleries across the country including in Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Cologne.   Partner news |  Latest news 200,000 Brazilians take to streets in protest march  A swelling wave of protest tapped into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption.Death toll in Baghdad suicide attack reaches 26 The blasts were the latest in a string of attacks hitting Iraq, reviving fears the country is headed back toward the widespread sectarian bloodshed.U.S. to open direct peace talks with Taliban, official says The talks are on condition that the Taliban renounce violence, break ties with al-Qaeda and respect the Afghan constitution.IMF calls for “ambitious” economic policy reforms in Russia The International Monetary Fund has cut its forecast for Russia’s GDP growth in 2014 to 3.25 percent from 3.8 percent. |
