LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Director Peter Jackson's return to Middle Earth, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," is No. 1 at the North American box office, receipts show.
The first of three prequels to Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" blockbusters grossed $36.7 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters this week, Box Office Mojo reported.