Fandango Reports THE HOBBIT Accounts for 76% of Today's Ticket Sales

Fandango is reporting that two upcoming releases are leading today's ticket sales: THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, which opens this Friday, represents 76% of sales, and the big-screen adaptation of LES MISERABLES, which opens Dec. 25, holds the second slot with 10%.

A survey of more than 2,000 HOBBIT ticket-buyers on Fandango revealed:

- 91% of respondents have seen a previous "Lord of the Rings" film
- 81% have read at least one of J.R.R. Tolkien's original books
- 90% were glad to see original "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson back to direct "The Hobbit"
- 73% were also fans of the "Harry Potter" franchise while only 27% considered themselves fans of the "Twilight" franchise
- 72% are happy that "The Hobbit" story spans three different installments;
- 61% claimed Jackson's high-frame-rate technology made them more curious to see the movie.

Rounding out the 'Fandango Five' for today, Dec. 11, are Skyfall (3%), Lincoln (3%), and Life of Pi (2%).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever... Gollum.

The big screen adaptation of LES MISERABLES is coming to theaters nationwide on Christmas Day. Under the direction of Tom Hooper, the film stars Hugh Jackman as 'Jean Valjean', Anne Hathaway as 'Fantine', Russell Crowe as 'Javert', Sacha Baron Cohen as Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Samantha Barks as Eponine, and Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier. Original stage stars Colm Wilkinson, Frances Ruffelle and more will reprise their roles from the London production.

Les Miserables originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen's Theatre on 3 April 2004. When LES MISERABLES celebrated its 21st London birthday on 8 October 2006, it became the World's Longest Running Musical, surpassing the record previously held by "Cats" in London's West End. In January 2010, The West End production broke another record by celebrating its historic 10,000th performance.

Fandango, the nation's leading moviegoer destination, sells tickets to more than 20,000 screens nationwide. Fandango entertains and informs consumers with reviews, commentary, celebrity interviews and trailers, and offers the ability to quickly select a film, plan where and when to see it, and conveniently buy tickets in advance. At many theaters, fans can print their tickets at home or receive them as a paperless Mobile Ticket on their smartphones.

To post a comment, you must register and login.