“SMAUG” RETURNS TO PH THEATERS JAN 8, GROSSES $500-M WORLDWIDE

Due to persistent clamor from movie audiences, Warner Bros. will bring back “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” to selected theatres in the Philippines starting Wednesday, Jan. 8.

 

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

The film returns in 2D format in Glorietta 4, Trinoma, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Manila, SM Sta. Mesa and Robinsons Galleria; and in 35MM format in Festival Mall and Eastwood.

“Smaug’s” exhibition in IMAX cinemas (uninterrupted by the Metro Manila Film Festival) will continue in SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Southmall, SM Cebu, SM Clark, SM Lanang and SM Aura.

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” continues its climb up the worldwide box office, crossing $500 million globally. The film, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), has thus far grossed an estimated $160.5 million domestically and $343.5 million internationally, for a worldwide estimated total of $504 million and growing. 

The joint announcement was made by Gary Barber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios; Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema; Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures; Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures; and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Moving into its fourth week in release, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” continues to dominate the global box office, remaining the #1 film in U.S. and abroad. Internationally, the film has released in 61 territories, with key markets China and Japan set to open in the coming months. 

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” is the second film in Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson’s epic “The Hobbit” Trilogy, based on the timeless novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The first film, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” was released on December 14, 2012, and went on to become a billion dollar success at the worldwide box office.

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “Peter Jackson has delivered the perfect holiday treat for moviegoers. We anticipate that the film will continue to have terrific playability well into the new year as more people join in the adventure or return to experience it again and again.”

Kwan Vandenberg added, “With fantastic box office numbers and word-of-mouth continuing to build internationally, ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ is a global event. Warner Bros. joins our partners at New Line and MGM in congratulating Peter Jackson, his cast and crew, and everyone involved in this film on this milestone.”