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Five new nationwide releases reached theaters on Christmas Day, though none were quite strong enough to take first place away from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Ben StillerDavid O. RussellRobert De NiroSylvester StalloneJustin Bieber

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues had a solid debut this weekend, though it wasn't strong enough to take first place away from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Among the other new releases, American Hustle got off to a great start, while Saving Mr. Banks and Walking with Dinosaurs disappointed.David O. RussellTom HanksSpike Jonze

Over nine years after the Channel 4 news team first appeared on the big screen, Ron Burgundy and crew return this weekend in Anchorman: The Legend Continues. With a robust marketing campaign targeted at the original's rabid fanbase, Anchorman 2 should open in first place ahead of The Hobbit and a handful of newcomers.Will FerrellSteve CarellPaul RuddDavid O. RussellChristian BaleBradley CooperAmy AdamsJennifer LawrenceTom HanksEmma ThompsonJohn Lee HancockSpike Jonze

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug had a mighty debut this weekend, though it still fell noticeably short of its predecessor. Meanwhile, A Madea Christmas set a new low among Tyler Perry's Madea movies.David O. Russell

Midnight Update: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opened to $8.8 million at midnight, which is the second-highest midnight performance ever in December. Unfortunately, it ranks second behind last year's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which brought in $13 million at midnight. That's a 32 percent decline—if Smaug continues at that pace through the rest of the weekend, it will open to a very disappointing $58 million.Evangeline LillyTyler PerryRobert ZemeckisSteven SpielbergTom HanksEmma ThompsonDavid O. RussellChristian BaleAmy AdamsBradley CooperJennifer Lawrence

On a weekend in which most of the country was facing unusually frigid temperatures, Disney Animation's Frozen held well enough to take first place away from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Meanwhile, the lone newcomer Out of the Furnace was a major disappointment.Christian BaleDavid O. RussellVince VaughnEthan Coen

Relativity Media's Out of the Furnace is the only new nationwide release on the first weekend of December, which is typically one of the slowest frames of the year. The gritty action flick is unlikely to do much business, though, which leaves the battle for first place up to strong holdovers Frozen and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.Christian BaleChristopher NolanDavid O. RussellBrad Pitt

Thanks to huge numbers from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Thor: The Dark World, November box office exceeded $1 billion for the second year in a row. Its $1.07 billion was a bit below last year's $1.09 billion record, though.

It was feast or famine at the box office over the long Thanksgiving weekend. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Frozen obliterated a handful of records, and combined for over $200 million for the five-day frame. The rest of the market didn't fare so well, though: in particular, new releases Homefront, Black Nativity and Oldboy failed to find an audience.Jason StathamSpike Lee

Two movies with female leads are poised to dominate the box office over the Thanksgiving holiday. Josh GadForest WhitakerJason StathamSpike LeeJudi DenchSteve Coogan

As expected, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire attracted nearly unprecedented crowds to movie theaters this weekend. The highly-anticipated sequel opened to $158.1 million, which is the best opening ever in the month of November. It's also the sixth-biggest opening on record, and ranks third all-time among 2D-only movies.Vince Vaughn

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire got off to a strong start last night—the highly-anticipated sequel earned $25.25 million from shows beginning at 8 p.m. on Thursday. That's 28 percent higher than the midnight-only debut for The Hunger Games ($19.7 million).

Friday Update: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opened to a massive $70.5 million on Friday, which is a bit ahead of the first movie's $67.3 million opening day. Overall, it ranks seventh all-time. For the weekend, it's now guaranteed to earn at least $145 million, and could make it as high as $160 million.Suzanne CollinsJennifer LawrenceVince VaughnOwen WilsonKevin James

As the only new nationwide release this weekend, The Best Man Holiday exceeded all expectations with a very impressive $30 million haul. Still, superhero sequel Thor: The Dark World managed to hang on to first place.Tyler PerryAlexander PayneRidley ScottDenzel Washington

Due to some last-minute date changes, The Best Man Holiday is this weekend's only new nationwide release. At 2,024 locations, the comedy sequel should finish a strong second behind Thor: The Dark World, which will repeat in first place with around $35 million.Martin ScorseseTerrence HowardAlexander PayneGeorge Clooney

Thor: The Dark World dominated the box office this weekend, though the god of thunder was unable to make it in to the elite club of superheroes who have opened a movie over $100 million.Chris HemsworthNatalie PortmanRobert RedfordSylvester StalloneArnold SchwarzeneggerDenzel Washington

Thor: The Dark World—the sequel to 2011's Thor and the second follow-up to The Avengers—opens in 3,841 locations this weekend, and will likely earn more than all other current releases combined. It's unlikely, though, that the God of Thunder will move in to the pantheon of solo comic book superheros with $100 million openings (Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Superman).Natalie Portman

While we're still seven weeks away from Christmas, what's traditionally known as the "holiday" box office season officially kicked off on the first weekend of November. This also mean it's time for Box Office Mojo's annual holiday movie forecast, which predicts the domestic box office for some of the biggest titles of the season.Tom HanksEmma ThompsonMartin ScorseseLeonardo DiCaprioDavid O. RussellChristian BaleBradley CooperAmy AdamsJennifer LawrenceBen StillerKristen WiigRobert De NiroSylvester StalloneKevin HartTyler Perry

Ender's Game led the domestic box office this weekend, while Last Vegas narrowly beat animated disappointment Free Birds. Overall, the Top 12 earned $118.3 million, which is off five percent from last year.Harrison FordRobert De NiroMorgan FreemanTom HanksMatthew McConaughey