Rise Of The Guardians finished 4th in the weekend US box office, behind Twilight at #1, Skyfall at #2, and Lincoln at #3.
In fourth place, Rise of the Guardians badly missed expectations, with $24.0 million in its first three days and $32.4 million over five. DreamWorks Animation’s $145 million film (distributed by Paramount), which united Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Jack Frost became the studio’s worst animated opening since 2006?s Flushed Away, a collaboration with Aardman Animation. Supporters of the 3-D film have already pointed out that Guardians opened in the same range as 2004?s The Polar Express, which began with a soft $23.3 million but chugged along as it neared Christmas and eventually found $162.8 million. Still, Polar Express opened two weekends before Thanksgiving, not on the lucrative weekend. Rise of the Guardians, out in 3,653 theaters, was poised for a much better debut, yet it earned less in five days than recent DreamWorks Animation tales like Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted ($60.3 million debut) and Puss in Boots ($34.1 million) earned in three. Paramount will no doubt hope that the film’s “A” CinemaScore grade will lead to strong word-of-mouth in coming weeks.
1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – $43.1 million ($64.0 million in five days)
2. Skyfall – $36.0 million ($51.1 million)
3. Lincoln – $25.0 million ($34.1 million)
4. Rise of the Guardians – $24.0 million ($32.6 million)
5. Life of Pi – $22.0 million ($30.2 million)
6. Wreck-It Ralph – $16.8 million ($23.0 million)
7. Red Dawn – $14.6 million ($22.0 million)
