LOS ANGELES (AP) – Movie audiences shelled out a king’s ransom for one last trip to Middle-earth.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” raked in $73.6 million in its first weekend and put up a five-day haul of $125.1 million since debuting Wednesday, according to studio estimates Sunday.
That put it well ahead of the fantasy trilogy’s first two chapters. Part one, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” grossed $47.2 million over opening weekend and $75 million in its first five days, while the middle chapter, “The Two Towers,” had a $62 million opening weekend and took in $102 million over its first five days.
Julia Roberts’ “Mona Lisa Smile,” the weekend’s only other new wide release, opened as the No. 2 movie with $12 million. The previous weekend’s top movie, “Something’s Gotta Give,” slipped to third with $11.5 million.
“Return of the King” did not set records for best domestic opening weekend, but it put up the highest numbers ever for a worldwide debut. The film added $121 million in 28 other countries since Wednesday for a global total of $246.1 million, surpassing the $202.8 million five-day opening for “The Matrix Revolutions” last month.
Other studios mostly stayed away from opening weekend for “Return of the King,” holding the last of their big holiday wide releases for Christmas Day, when such films as “Cold Mountain,” “Peter Pan” and “Cheaper by the Dozen” open.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” $73.6 million.
2. “Mona Lisa Smile,” $12 million.
3. “Something’s Gotta Give,” $11.5 million.
4. “The Last Samurai,” $7.3 million.
5. “Stuck on You,” $5.4 million. 6. “Elf,” $5 million.
7. “Bad Santa,” $4.3 million.
8. “The Haunted Mansion,” $4.2 million.
9. “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” $4 million.
10. “Honey,” $2.6 million.
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