Film News: ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1’ Wins Box Office For Third Consecutive Week

CHICAGO – In a weekend that didn’t see any major new releases, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” held its ground over all the current releases and reclaimed the top spot at the box office as a three-peat champ. The film brought in an estimated $16.9 million over the first December weekend.

The weekend brought the total gross of “Twilight” to an estimated $247.3 million domestically. Judging by the slowdown in sales, it looks like there is no way “Breaking Dawn – Part 1” will beat this year’s other highly anticipated adaptation “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” which made $381 million domestically, as well as Michael Bay’s third transforming robot movie, “Dark of the Moon,” which made $352 million. “Twilight” still has a chance of finishing in third, however, if it can wrangle up another $8 million over its run to top “The Hangover Part II.”

As far as the rest of the box office, the only significant change was “The Descendants” jumping from ten to seven in the rankings with a $5.2 million weekend. The drama/comedy that has plenty of buzz for awards season has now been released to 574 theaters and grossed a little over $18 million.

Will “Twilight” make it to the very rare milestone of four consecutive weekend box office wins? We will have to see if it can beat out all the roll over films, plus the new releases of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “New Year’s Eve.” As more and more fans have already seen the film, the numbers for “Breaking Dawn – Part 1” will continue to decline, but they might still be enough for the back-to-back-to-back-to-back win.

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 [16]– $16.9 million – down 60% — $247.3 million total
2. The Muppets [17]– $11.2 million – down 62% — $56.1 million total
3. Hugo [18]— $7.6 million – down 33% — $25.2 million total
4. Arthur Christmas [19]— $7.4 million – down 39% — $25.3 million total
5. Happy Feet Two [20]— $6 million – down 55% — $51.8 million total
6. Jack and Jill [21]— $5.5 million – down 45% — $64.3 million total
7. The Descendants [22]– $5.2 million – down 29% — $18.2 million total
8. Immortals [23]— $4.4 million – down 51% — $75.6 million total
9. Tower Heist [24]– $4.1 million – down 43% — $70.1 million total
10. Puss in Boots [25] — $3.1 million – down 59% — $139.5 million total

[26]	By TIM MARTENS [27] Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com [26]