The Angelina Jolie-directed biopic “Unbroken” topped the North American box office on Christmas Day, just ahead of the musical “Into the Woods,” according to final figures released Friday.
“Unbroken,” the biography of Torrance High School and USC track star and World War II hero Louis Zamperini, earned $15.59 million, according to Rentrak, while “Into the Woods,” another movie released Thursday, came in second with $15.08 million.
The two box office victors were joined by a bevy of other Christmas Day releases including the Tim Burton-directed biopic “Big Eyes” and the crime drama “The Gambler.” In limited release was the biographical film “American Sniper,” the historical drama “Selma” and the controversial comedy “The Interview.”
The limited release of “The Interview” was 14th with $1.04 million. It was shown in 331 theaters, slightly more than one-tenth the 3,131 for “Unbroken.”
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” which dominated the box office last weekend, dropped to third, earning $13.14 million. Ben Stiller’s “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” was fourth with $7.35 million and “The Gambler,” starring Mark Wahlberg, placed fifth with $5 million.
Rounding out the top 10 films of Christmas Day were “Annie” ($4.6 million), “The Imitation Game” ($3.08 million), “Exodus: Gods and Kings” ($3.03 million), “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” ($3.59 million), and “Wild” ($1.66 million).
— Staff and wire reports