Middle-earth was the place to be this weekend.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug debuted at No.1, raking in a whopping $73.7 million domestically. The film made $53.50 million internationally, and grossed more than $127 million worldwide.
According to box office estimates, Peter Jackson's latest flick earned an impressive $8.8 million in its 12 a.m. showings alone on Friday, Dec. 13. That total makes it the second-highest December showing ever. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey holds the top spot after earning more than $13 million through midnight showings in 2012.
The film made $9.25 million in IMAX domestically.
The adventure-fantasy film, starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, is the second installment of the big-screen trilogy adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's famed novel. Desolation of Smaug tells the story of Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves as they continue their epic quest to slay a dragon and reclaim a homeland.
The heartwarming Disney film Frozen came in at No.2, taking home $22.2 million.
In its first weekend in theaters, Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas took the No.3 spot, earning $16 million.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Thor: The Dark World rounded out the top 5, making $13.2 million and $2.7 million, respectively.
Here's a complete rundown of the Wednesday-Sunday estimates, per Box Office Mojo:
1. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: $73.7 million
2. Frozen: $22.2 million
3. Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas: $16 million
4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: $13.2 million
5. Thor: The Dark World: $2.7 million
6. Out of the Furnace: $2.3 million
7. Delivery Man: $1.9 million
8. Philomena: $1.76 million
9. The Book Thief: $1.67 million
10. Homefront: $1.64 million