‘Rings’ still rules the box office

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” ruled holiday moviegoing again in its second weekend, as Peter Jackson’s epic adaptation of the classic book series fueled strong Christmas business with an estimated $51.2 million Friday through Sunday. Including Christmas Day, the weekend tally would be $65.8 million.

Box office tracking firm Nielsen EDI Inc. said the estimated $190 million taken in by all films represented the industry’s biggest Friday-Sunday Christmas holiday weekend.

The box office also benefited from the Steve Martin family comedy “Cheaper by the Dozen,” which came in second to “Return of the King” with an estimated $28.2 million over the three days and $36.4 million since it opened Christmas Day. The star-studded Civil War drama “Cold Mountain” came in third with an estimated $14.5 million over three days and $19 million since its Christmas debut.

The top 10 films grossed an estimated $162.1 million, or 9% ahead of the same weekend last year and 25% higher than last weekend, Nielsen EDI said.

“Return of the King” also beat the pace set by its predecessor, “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” already reaching $223.7 million domestically (versus $200 million for “Towers” in its second weekend this time last year) and $268.4 million internationally in its first 12 days of release.

The final installment of the trilogy is expected to gross more than $500 million worldwide by early this week. “King’s” domestic performance is up 12% from “The Two Towers.” The three films, “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers” and “Return of the King,” cost at least $300 million to make and several millions to market, but the movies have more than paid for themselves. The three films have grossed well over $2 billion. Even so, it does not appear New Line Cinema is eager to take on another three-part gamble.

“We have to be careful with the trilogies,” said Rolf Mittweg, New Line’s chief of worldwide marketing and distribution. “It’s always good to get out while you’re ahead.”

Fox’s family-oriented “Cheaper by the Dozen” impressed rival distributors with its opening. The movie, which reportedly cost about $40 million, offered a lighthearted alternative to adult dramas.

The comedy may have cut into business for Universal’s “Peter Pan,” which opened with less-than-stellar numbers. “Pan,” a $100-million venture split evenly between Universal, Revolution Studios and Columbia, debuted in seventh place with an estimated $11.4 million on 2,813 screens and $15.1 million since Christmas Day. A majority of the film’s fans were children under 12, while “Cheaper” attracted a broader range of adults.

Miramax’s $90 million saga “Cold Mountain” opened Christmas Day to solid business in 2,163 theaters, and Miramax intends to increase the count by as much as 700 theaters by Jan. 19. The studio is counting on awards and nominations to propel the movie forward.

News was not so good for Paramount’s futuristic sci-fi movie “Paycheck.” The Ben Affleck thriller grossed $13.9 million over the three days, much better than Affleck’s last movie, “Gigli.”

In limited releases, Sony Pictures Classics posted a strong weekend. Its Robert Altman film “The Company” grossed an estimated $96,939 in three days on 11 screens in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago for an average of $8,813. The same studio’s critically acclaimed documentary “The Fog of War” also brought in solid numbers, grossing an estimated $50,672 in five theaters for an average of $10,134.

Newmarket Films’ “Monster,” a fact-based serial killer drama starring Charlize Theron as the title character, performed well in four theaters, grossing over three days an estimated $84,156, or an average of $21,039.

Returning films that held up strongly included Sony’s “Big Fish,” which grossed $2 million at 124 sites for a per theater average of $16,129; and Disney’s “Calendar Girls,” which brought in $388,000 over the three days in 42 theaters for an average of $9,238. DreamWorks’ “House of Sand and Fog” expanded to 438 theaters and took in about $1.7 million Friday through Sunday.