‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’ dethrones ‘The Hobbit’

LOS ANGELES, USA – Slasher flick “Texas Chainsaw 3D” stole the top slot at the North American box office this weekend, driving “The Hobbit” from its 3-week perch in first place, estimates indicated Sunday, January 6.

The latest offering in the horror franchise, first launched in 1974 but now in 21st century 3D gore, took in US$23-M in its debut weekend, the first of the new year, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

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Not far behind in second place was Quentin Tarantino’s brutal Western “Django Unchained,” which earned US$20-M in its second week. The film, which has already earned 5 Golden Globe nominations, is considered a top Oscars contender.

That left “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the long-awaited first part of Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” prequel trilogy, in 3rd place. It racked up US$17.5-M in its 4th week in theaters for an international grand total of US$263.8-M so far.

Another Oscar-tipped movie, “Les Miserables,” took 4th spot, raking in in US$16.1-M at the box office in its second week in theaters.

The all-important Academy Award nominations are due to be announced Thursday, January 10.

In 5th place, “Parental Guidance,” a comedy starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler looking after their grandchildren, earned US$10.1-M.

Tom Cruise action blockbuster “Jack Reacher,” in which the Hollywood A-lister’s character investigates fictional shootings by a trained military sniper, came in 6th with weekend earnings of US$9.3-M.

And Judd Apataw’s comedy “This is 40,” billed as “a sort-of sequel” to the 2007 film romcom “Knocked Up,” stayed just behind with US$8.6-M.

In 8th place was Steven Spielberg’s political drama “Lincoln” — another Oscar hopeful which topped the Golden Globe nominations with 7 nods — earning US$5.3-M on its 9th weekend.

“The Guilt Trip,” about a mother-son road trip starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogan, earned US$4.5-M, good enough for 9th place.

Joining the top 10 for the first time, with US$4.3-M in box office receipts, was “Promised Land,” a drama starring Matt Damon and exploring the booming but controversial drilling process known as fracking. – Rappler.com