‘Taken 3’ beats ‘The Hobbit’s’ winning streak and tops box office with $40.4 million. Read more on the story below!
After three weeks of being on top in the box office,”The Hobbit” has now been removed from its top spot by actor Liam Neeson.”The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” moved to fourth place with $9.4 million after being at the top in first place for three weeks straight. The total domestic earning for filmmaker Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” finale now stands at $236.5 million. “The Hobbit” also earned $21.8 million in the international box office this weekend, giving the film a worldwide total of $545.3 million. In the movie ‘Taken 3,’ Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills. According to studio estimates, “Taken 3” grabbed the top spot at the weekend box office in North America with $40.4 million.
“Taken 3” is the third installment of the 20th Century Fox thriller. Liam Neeson stars as a vengeance seeking retired CIA operative with “a very particular set of skills.” The original 2009 debut of “Taken,” also features actors Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen. Actor Forest Whitaker also stars in ‘Taken 3.’ The first “Taken,” earned $24.7 million, “Taken 2” premiered in 2012 with $49.5 million. “Taken 3” earned $41 million in 36 international territories this weekend as well. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at box-office tracker Rentrak said, “For Neeson to be at this stage in his career and be considered one of the premier action heroes is certainly unexpected, but it’s really cool and lucrative…I don’t think Neeson expected back in ’09 that `Taken’ would take off the way it has. It’s really enhanced his box-office appeal.”
Estimated ticket sales for the weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak are 1. “Taken 3,” $40.4 million ($41 million international), 2. “Selma,” $11.2 million, 3. “Into the Woods,” $9.7 million ($7.6. million international), 4. “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” $9.4 million ($21.8 million international), 5. “Unbroken,” $8.7 million ($5.7 million international), 6. “The Imitation Game,” $7.6 million ($5.5 international).
