Hobbits haul in the millions

Reuters ^ | Sun 28 December, 2003 21:28 | Dean Goodman

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hobbits held sway at movie theatres around the world over the Christmas holiday weekend as the final instalment in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy powered towards $500 million after less than two weeks.

According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" has grossed $492.1 million (278 million pounds) from North America and 38 countries elsewhere.

The epic fantasy is outpacing both its predecessors and should reach $1 billion, said Rolf Mittweg, president of worldwide marketing and distribution at New Line Cinema which is a unit of Time Warner.

The new film's foreign haul of $268.4 million includes $48 million from Britain, $45 million from Germany and $30 million from France. The film opened on Friday in Australia, and has already pulled in $8.7 million.

"With the release of each film, the emotional resonance and dramatic impact have only increased," Mittweg said.

Despite its success, the film has a long way to go before unseating all-time champ "Titanic," which grossed about $1.8 billion worldwide. The first film in the "Rings" series, "The Fellowship of the Ring" earned $865 million worldwide.

In North America, "The Return of the King" combined with four new releases, led by the Steve Martin comedy "Cheaper by the Dozen," to drive ticket sales to a record high for the Christmas weekend.

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RingPing (ka-ching)

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RingPing (ka-ching)

[SuziQ]

Despite its success, the film has a long way to go before unseating all-time champ "Titanic," which grossed about $1.8 billion worldwide

Wouldn't it be great if, when it's all said and done, ROTK beats out Titanic? Then we wouldn't have to read about that torturous movie anymore!

[JenB]

Titanic. What a waste of time. I won't watch it, not even to see DiCaprio die...

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

There and Back Again: The Journeys of Flat Frodo

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[Professional Engineer]

At times I think I'm the only person in north america who hasn't seen either Titanic or Forest Gump.

[discostu]

You don't stand alone. I avoid both Hanks and Dicaprio and haven't seen either, won't see either, they both look insipid.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

Titanic was (a) prophetic of 9/11 and (b) showed a marvelous shot of Kate Winslet and her two best friends, Port and Starboard. Not ENTIRELY a waste.

However, you can use your DVD scene selector to fast forward through the first 2 hrs of the flik and miss not a thing.

[Siamese Princess]

Titanic. What a waste of time. I won't watch it, not even to see DiCaprio die...

I saw Titanic. Great special effects and sets, but, ultimately, just a soggy love story set on a doomed ship.

[discostu]

Prophetic of 9/11? I thought it was about a rich ho that cheated on her abussive rich guy with a poor but pretty 14 year-old of indeterminate gender and then avoided drowning with either man. As for the magnificent shot of Kate Winslet, seen it, the internet has certain side benefits in the back alleys.

[sneakers]

I have only seen parts of Titanic. And I only saw the beginning of Forest Gump. I think we might own Titanic (past Christmas gift) but I have no desire to watch it. As for Forest Gump; well, what little I saw was quite enough for me, thank you.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

You're missing the larger point by concentrating on the stupid lead-in story (which is nothing more than a remake of the classic 1982 weepy set on Mackinac Island, Michigan, called Somewhere in Time and starring Christopher Reeve and the then-incomparable Jayne Seymour, whose ta-tas were of such bodaciousness that they left Katie's in the dust).

I'm talking about a magnificent thousand-foot long monument to the cultural arrogance of an age which, when it was destroyed, brought about a moment in time which truly delineated between the Rich Old Days of Peace and the Ugly New Days of War. Except that in the case of 9/11, we didn't lose 1500, as the Titanic did, we lost 3000.

[HairOfTheDog]

Forrest Gump is a great movie.... Tom Hanks is a wonderful actor. I know no reason to avoid Tom Hanks. It's good, you guys! see it.

Titanic had pretty sets and a good enough love story. It ain't bad.

[Alouette]

I think I'm the only person in north america who hasn't seen either Titanic or Forest Gump.

You win. My kids made me watch the DVD of Forrest Gump last September.

I still refuse to watch Titanic.

[Saundra Duffy]

LOVED that movie!!!!!!!

[LinnieBeth]

Nope, you're not alone. I haven't even seen the Titanic on free TV.

[Lil'freeper]

I haven't seen Titanic either due to a serious aversion to any movie portraying a sinking ship or drowining. But if I may recommend the book Forrest Gump- it is hilarious and three times the story the movie was.

[BibChr]

Yeah, but it's from Reuters, so it's probably a lie.

Dan

[Maigret]

At times I think I'm the only person in north america who hasn't seen either Titanic or Forest Gump.

Nope, you're in very good company :)