Tops at the Box Office: 'The Hobbit' narrowly holds back 'Django Unchained' and 'Les Miserables'

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey- $32.9M/$222.7M
Despite a trio of powerful debuts, including two specifically aiming for the holiday audience, The Hobbit beat back its competition and has now surpassed $600M worldwide. It's not inconceivable to think it will have shot beyond $700M by this time next week, despite the apparent lukewarm response from critics and audiences.
2. Django Unchained- $30.7M/$64M
Quentin Tarantino was right on Peter Jackson's heels, despite the 'R' rating, the controversial subject matter, the niche spaghetti Western genre, and opening at far fewer theaters. Clearly, the Tarantino faithful showed up in droves, giving him the strongest debut of his career and establishing him as probably the only director who can pretty much do anything and be successful.
3. Les Miserables- $28M/$67.4M
Speaking of the faithful turning out to support their favorites, that's what fans of Les Miserables did on Christmas Day. After a massive $18M first day haul, the film slacked off the rest of the week, and I think some of that hyperbolic early praise started to die out. Still, the film is going to be a huge player in the Oscar race, and will certainly meet or surpass what Tom Hooper's The King's Speech did on its way to winning Best Picture.
4. Parental Guidance- $14.8M/$29.6M
We've been trying to warn you on this site for awhile that if people turn out to see Billy Crystal getting punched in the nuts in Parental Guidance, that we'd all be in store for a Meet the Parents-style franchise for years to come. Apparently nobody listened, because despite horrible reviews and terrible marketing the film performed extremely well, and the 'A' Cinemascore means those who turned out actually enjoyed it. So when at this time next Christmas we're saddled with 'More Parental Guidance', there's nobody to blame but yourselves, America.
5. Jack Reacher- $14M/$44.6M
6. This Is 40- $13.2M/$37.1M
Well on its way to being the lowest-grossing film of Judd Apatow's career. 
7. Lincoln- $7.5M/$132M
8. The Guilt Trip- $6.7M/$21.1M
9. Monsters, Inc. 3D- $6.3M/$18.5M
10. Rise of the Guardians- $4.9M/$90.2M