Pamela McClintock of THR:
Moviegoers stuffed themselves on a diverse buffet of movies at the Thanksgiving box office, with overall revenues ringing in it at a record $290 million for the Wednesday through Sunday stretch.
But not every film benefitted from the holiday. New entry Rise of the Guardians posted a five-day opening of $32.6 million, the lowest debut for a DreamWorks Animation title in recent memory. The weekend take was $24 million.
In a surprise twist, Ang Lee's awards contender Life of Pi overperformed in its opening to nearly match Rise of the Guardians, posting a three-day gross of $22 million and a five-day take of $30.2 million for 20th Century Fox.
Holdovers were particularly potent over the long holiday, with Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2 and MGM/Sony's Skyfall both jumping the $200 million mark domestically.
Breaking Dawn -- Part 2 easily topped the box office chart, taking in $43.1 million for the three days and $64 million for the five days. After two weeks of play, the final installment in the blockbuster franchise has earned $227 million domestically and $577.7 million worldwide.
Sam Mendes' Skyfall came in No. 2, grossing $36 million for the three days and $51 million for the five days. The movie, earning $221.7 million to date, is the first James Bond pic to earn $200 million or more domestically.
Steven Spielberg's awards contender Lincoln continued to build momentum, coming in at an impressive No. 3 with a five-day gross of $34.1 million for DreamWorks and distribution partner Disney. Lincoln, earning $25.1 million for the weekend itself, has now grossed $62.2 million domestically. The historical drama's strong performance boosts its awards chances and is a needed victory for DreamWorks.
Rise of the Guardians placed No. 4. DreamWorks Animation and Paramount are hoping that Guardians follows the same path as The Polar Express -- both movies are Christmas-themed -- which debuted to a meek $23.3 million in early November 2004, but ultimately grossed $182.7 million domestically.
Costing $145 million to produce, Rise of the Guardians did draw a stellar A CinemaScore. The toon, drawing only 35 percent of its earnings from 3D screens, is the final DWA title that Paramount will distribute; Jeffrey Katzenberg's DWA now embarks on its five-year distribution deal with Fox.
Life of Pi, a substantial creative risk for Fox, drew an A- CinemaScore. Overseas, the movie opened to a strong $17.5 million from only four markets, including China, where it was No. 1 with $10.5 million. Pi also opened in India ($3.5 million), Taiwan ($2.2 million) -- where Lee was born -- and Hong Kong ($1.4 million).
"To open to $47.7 milllion worldwide is a phenomenal start for this unique movie," Fox president of domestic distribution Chris Aronson said. "This performance validates the vision of Ang Lee and Elizabeth Gabler [president of Fox 2000]."
Costing $120 million to produce, Life of Pi is succeeding in drawing younger moviegoers and families in the U.S., with 38 percent of the audience under the age of 25 (the film is rated PG). Tracking had suggested the movie, based on Yann Martel's bestselling novel about a boy lost at sea with a Bengal tiger, would post a five-day opening in the $20 million range.
Life of Pi -- Lee's first 3D movie -- had drawn comparisons to Martin Scorsese's Hugo, but that film debuted to a troubled $15.4 million last Thanksgiving.
Disney Animation Studios' Wreck-It Ralph, posing unexpected competition for Rise of the Guardians, came in a strong No. 6 in its fourth outing with a three-day gross of $16.8 million and five-day gross of $23 million. The toon's domestic cume is $149.5 million.
MGM and FilmDistrict's Red Dawn remake -- the third new Thanksgiving entry after Life of Pi and Guardians -- posted a five-day gross of $22 million. The action pic, relying heavily on older males, received a B CinemaScore.
The specialty box office saw so-so results as several high-profile award contenders vied for attention.
David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook expanded into a total of 367 theaters on Wednesday as The Weinstein Co. scrapped a nationwide push in favor of a slower rollout.
Silver Linings -- starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver -- came in at No. 9 with $4.6 million for the three days and $5.9 million for the five days, pushing its domestic total to $6.5 million. The film's three-day location average of $12,596 and five-day average of $16,079 were solid, but lackluster.
As a way of comparison, Lincoln is playing in 2,018 theaters and posted a three-day average of $12,398 and five-day average of $16,896.
Fox Searchlight's Hitchcock, starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren, opened in 17 theaters on Friday, grossing $300,799 for a location average of $17,694.
Sony Pictures Classics opened Rust and Bone, starring Marion Cotillard, in two theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday. The drama grossed $30,196 million for a location ssof $15,098.
Joe Wright's Anna Karenina expanded into a total of 66 theaters on Friday. The Focus Features film took in $831,732 for a location average of $12,062 and a cume of $1.5 million. Starring Keira Knightley, Anna Karenina is being fueled by traditional arthouse audiences, evidenced by the fact that it was up 159 percent from Friday to Saturday.
Next Up: Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Sam Shepard, and Scoot McNairy are Killing Them Softly for director Andrew Dominik; Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton show off items in The Collection
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