The 'Hobbit' Vs. 'Anchorman' Battle Rages

It is a battle fabled and confused: Two sequels, A-list casts, and mythical creatures have combined to make a box office stand-off of at least some note: Both The Hobbit and Anchorman 2 did really well at the box office this weekend — but who did better? Will the beloved British actors or the comedy royalty take home the nonexistent box office statuette? Who came out on top this weekend really depends on who you ask. The Hollywood Reporter, for example, has a headline declaring that The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug at least vaguely decimated (wimpy translation: Beat by a couple million) Anchorman 2's debut box office weekend. The LA Times, however, asserts that Anchorman 2 "held onto a slim lead" over the second in the Hobbit trilogy.

So what are the actual numbers? Box Office Mojo's weekend estimates have The Hobbit in the lead with $31.5 million, with Anchorman 2 in second with a healthy $26.8 million, and Disney's Frozen in third with $19.2 million.

On the other hand, Anchorman 2 is gaining traction fast, with its 5-day totals grossing $40 million already, due in part because mid-Holidays December is the best time to release a movie if you want it to make major, major bank. It's basically all about the science of being able to sit in a dark room for a couple of hours without your family being able to talk to you.

Image: DreamWorks