"The Hobbit" raked in $84.8 million in gross U.S. box office receipts during the weekend, a record for December.

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The Los Angeles Times reported the figure for the first installment of a three-part prequel to "The Lord of the Rings" was significantly lower than pre-release audience polling suggested, which was between $120 million and $140 million.

All U.S. studio box office estimates are via Box Office Mojo.

The animated "Rise of the Guardians" was second with $7.42; "Lincoln" third with $7.244 million; "Skyfall" fourth with $7 million; "Life of Pi" fifth with $5.4 million; "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2" sixth with $5.175 million; "Wreck-It Ralph" seventh with $3.273 million; "Playing for Keeps" eighth with $3.247 million; "Red Dawn (2012)" ninth with $2.394 million.

"Silver Linings Playbook" was 10th with $2.084 million.