‘The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies’ Opens No. 1 in 11 Overseas Markets

Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth epic takes in $11.3 million in first day of release for Warner Bros.

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” opened at No. 1 in all 11 overseas markets in which it debuted Wednesday, taking in $11.3 million for Warner Bros.

It posted the biggest opening day of the year in eight territories (Germany, Belgium, Holland, all four Scandinavian territories and Switzerland), ahead of its Dec. 17 arrival in North America. The first two films in “The Hobbit” franchise were major global hits, grossing $1.9 billion worldwide.

The top opening for “Five Armies” was in Germany, where it brought in $3.2 million, by far the best opening day of 2014 in that country. It topped last year’s debut of “The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug” by four percent and beat “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” by 66 percent, Warner Bros. said.

France came in with $2.7 million, again ahead of the two earlier “Hobbit” movies.

On Thursday the finale in Peter Jackson‘s Middle-earth trilogy rolls out in 17 territories, including Russia, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand. On Friday, it opens in eight more including the U.K. and on Saturday, it debuts in Japan.

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