#1 of 93 #1 movie of December 2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
2012 · Adventure, Fantasy
$1B worldwide · 31% of the chart's total
$303M US & Canada · 30% $714.1M elsewhere · 70%
Box office · December 2012
December 2012 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing December Releases
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) is the highest-grossing movie released in December 2012, with $1B worldwide, ahead of Les Miserables (2012) at $442.8M and Django Unchained (2012) at $426.1M. 93 films released in December 2012 report a worldwide gross, $3.3B in all, 33% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 8 crossed $100 million. That is down 29% on November 2012, whose releases took $4.6B. By genre, Drama leads with $1.7B across 44 releases.
- December 2012 releases with a gross
- 93
- combined worldwide
- $3.3B
- films crossed $100M
- 8
- vs November 2012
- −29%
#1 of 93 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of December 2012?
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) leads with $1B, 31% of the total. The top 5 together took $2.3B, 70% of what all 93 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Release of December 2012, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 93. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in December 2012.
- 1 Dec 14, 2012 US and Canada: $303M Rest of the world: $714.1M Worldwide: $1B
- 2 Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $149.3M Rest of the world: $293.5M Worldwide: $442.8M
- 3 Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $162.8M Rest of the world: $263.3M Worldwide: $426.1M
- 4 Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $80.1M Rest of the world: $138.3M Worldwide: $218.3M
- 5 Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $19M Rest of the world: $179.1M Worldwide: $198.1M
- 6
Dec 12, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $171.3M - 7
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: $95.7M Rest of the world: $37.1M Worldwide: $132.8M - 8
Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $77.3M Rest of the world: $42.5M Worldwide: $119.8M - 9
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $67.5M Rest of the world: $20.7M Worldwide: $88.2M - 10
Dec 28, 2012 US and Canada: $18.4M Rest of the world: $41.1M Worldwide: $59.5M - 11
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: $37.1M Rest of the world: $4.7M Worldwide: $41.9M - 12
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $12.5M Rest of the world: $21.6M Worldwide: $34.2M - 13
Dec 27, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $33.7M - 14
Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: $13.1M Rest of the world: $17.9M Worldwide: $31M - 15
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: $6.7M Rest of the world: $22.9M Worldwide: $29.7M - 16
Dec 22, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25M - 17
Dec 6, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.5M - 18
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.8M - 19
Dec 15, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.6M - 20
Dec 6, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.5M - 21
Dec 28, 2012 US and Canada: $7.6M Rest of the world: $3.4M Worldwide: $11M - 22
Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: $6.4M Rest of the world: $4.6M Worldwide: $11M - 23
Dec 22, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.3M - 24
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $744.3K Rest of the world: $8.9M Worldwide: $9.6M - 25
Dec 24, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.9M - 26
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.6M - 27
Dec 20, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.2M - 28
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: $5.9M Worldwide: $6.9M - 29
Dec 28, 2012 US and Canada: $21.8K Rest of the world: $6M Worldwide: $6M - 30
Dec 14, 2012 US and Canada: $3.3M Rest of the world: $1.8M Worldwide: $5.1M - 31
Dec 6, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5M - 32
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: $1.7M Worldwide: $4.2M - 33
Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: $23.4K Rest of the world: $4.2M Worldwide: $4.2M - 34
Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5M - 35
Dec 24, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2M - 36
Dec 6, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M - 37
Dec 5, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4M - 38
Dec 14, 2012 US and Canada: $201.4K Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $2.3M - 39
Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1M - 40
Dec 26, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1M - 41
Dec 12, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1M - 42
Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: $66.4K Rest of the world: $1.9M Worldwide: $1.9M - 43
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 44
Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: $21K Rest of the world: $1.6M Worldwide: $1.6M - 45
Dec 28, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M - 46
Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M - 47
Dec 28, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 48
Dec 26, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 49
Dec 26, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $914.9K - 50
Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: $379.5K Rest of the world: $455.6K Worldwide: $835.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 2012?
Of the top 10, This Is 40 (2012) earned the biggest share at home (77% in the US & Canada), while The Impossible (2012) made 90% of its gross abroad. Across all 93 films, $1.1B (33%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) $1B $303M US & Canada · 30% $714.1M elsewhere · 70%
- 2 Les Miserables (2012) $442.8M $149.3M US & Canada · 34% $293.5M elsewhere · 66%
- 3 Django Unchained (2012) $426.1M $162.8M US & Canada · 38% $263.3M elsewhere · 62%
- 4 Jack Reacher (2012) $218.3M $80.1M US & Canada · 37% $138.3M elsewhere · 63%
- 5 The Impossible (2012) $198.1M $19M US & Canada · 10% $179.1M elsewhere · 90%
- 6 Chinese Zodiac (2012) $171.3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Zero Dark Thirty (2012) $132.8M $95.7M US & Canada · 72% $37.1M elsewhere · 28%
- 8 Parental Guidance (2012) $119.8M $77.3M US & Canada · 65% $42.5M elsewhere · 35%
- 9 This Is 40 (2012) $88.2M $67.5M US & Canada · 77% $20.7M elsewhere · 23%
- 10 Quartet (2012) $59.5M $18.4M US & Canada · 31% $41.1M elsewhere · 69%
Gross bands
How Many December 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
8 of 93 films crossed $100M and took $2.7B between them, 83% of the total. 70 films, 75% of the list, earned under $10M.
31% 52% 13%
- $1B or more 1 film, 1% of the list $1B · 31% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 7 films, 8% of the list $1.7B · 52% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 15 films, 16% of the list $436.8M · 13% of the gross
- Under $10M 70 films, 75% of the list $106.9M · 3% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 2012 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 50 (Dec 9–15) took $1.2B, led by The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 25–Dec 1 Paddle Pop Adventures 2: Journey Into The Kingdom (2012) $1.4M Paddle Pop Adventures 2: Journey Into The Kingdom (2012)
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 2–8 Playing for Keeps (2012) $100.6M Playing for Keeps (2012)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 9–15 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) $1.2B The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 16–22 Jack Reacher (2012) $835.7M Jack Reacher (2012)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 23–29 Les Miserables (2012) $1.1B Les Miserables (2012)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 30–31 Feu: Crazy Horse Paris (2012) $54.9K Feu: Crazy Horse Paris (2012)
Earlier years
How Does December 2012 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 2009 earned the most: $5.2B from 89 films, led by Avatar (2009). December 2012 took $3.3B.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2003 58 films | 58 | $3.3B | – | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B |
| December 2004 73 films · −29% | 73 | $2.3B | −29% | Meet the Fockers (2004) $522.7M |
| December 2005 68 films · +34% | 68 | $3.1B | +34% | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) $745M |
| December 2006 108 films · +11% | 108 | $3.4B | +11% | Night at the Museum (2006) $574.5M |
| December 2007 91 films · +8% | 91 | $3.7B | +8% | I Am Legend (2007) $585.4M |
| December 2008 94 films · −22% | 94 | $2.9B | −22% | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $335.8M |
| December 2009 89 films · +81% | 89 | $5.2B | +81% | Avatar (2009) $2.9B |
| December 2010 100 films · −37% | 100 | $3.3B | −37% | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) $415.7M |
| December 2011 99 films · −8% | 99 | $3B | −8% | Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) $694.7M |
| December 2012 93 films · +8% | 93 | $3.3B | +8% | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) $1B |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in December 2012?
Drama took $1.7B across 44 films, 51% of the total, ahead of Adventure ($1.6B) and Action ($1.2B). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $2.7B across 38 films, 82% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language films ($196.3M) and French-language films ($40M).
December 2012 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $1.7B44 films · #1 Les Miserables (2012) -
Adventure $1.6B9 films · #1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) -
Action $1.2B9 films · #1 Django Unchained (2012) -
Fantasy $1.1B5 films · #1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) -
Thriller $995.1M10 films · #1 Les Miserables (2012) -
Crime $651.4M4 films · #1 Django Unchained (2012) -
Romance $560.6M19 films · #1 Les Miserables (2012) -
Comedy $491.3M38 films · #1 Parental Guidance (2012) -
Musical $447M2 films · #1 Les Miserables (2012) -
Western $426.1M1 film · #1 Django Unchained (2012)
December 2012 Box Office by Language
-
English $2.7B38 films · #1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) -
Chinese $196.3M2 films · #1 Chinese Zodiac (2012) -
French $40M7 films · #1 Amour (2012) -
Japanese $38.1M3 films · #1 Love for Beginners (2012) -
Korean $37M4 films · #1 Love 911 (2012) -
Russian $33.7M1 film · #1 Three Heroes on Distant Shores (2012) -
German $16.5M5 films · #1 Vampire Sisters (2012) -
Italian $10.3M2 films · #1 The Worst Christmas of My Life (2012) -
Hindi $8.5M3 films · #1 Dabangg 2 (2012) -
Turkish $6.3M5 films · #1 Dance with the Jackals 2 (2012)
Archive
Box Office in 2012, Month by Month
The months of 2012 with their totals: November leads with $4.6B, led by Skyfall (2012).
- January $971M #1 Underworld: Awakening (2012)
- February $1.6B #1 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
- March $2.7B #1 The Hunger Games (2012)
- April $1.3B #1 American Reunion (2012)
- May $3.9B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- June $3.5B #1 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
- July $3.4B #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- August $1.9B #1 The Expendables 2 (2012)
- September $1.8B #1 Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- October $1.7B #1 Taken 2 (2012)
- November $4.6B #1 Skyfall (2012)
- December $3.3B #1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
FAQ
Box Office December 2012: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 93 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in December 2012?
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) leads with $1B worldwide, $303M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Les Miserables (2012) at $442.8M and Django Unchained (2012) at $426.1M.
How much did movies released in December 2012 earn?
93 films released in December 2012 report a worldwide gross, $3.3B in all, or $35.2M per film on average. November 2012 releases took $4.6B.
How many movies released in December 2012 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). 8 crossed $100 million.
How is the December 2012 box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in December 2012. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the December 2012 box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.