video transcript

"The Hobbit" brought home a big box office treasure over the weekend, setting a December movie record with 85 million dollars (USD) in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales as legions of fans turned out for the long-awaited big-screen return to Middle Earth. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" also rung up sales of 138 million in international markets. Global receipts for the prequel to the smash "Lord of the Rings" trilogy stood at 223 million through Sunday. In second place was the animated family film "Rise of the Guardians" with 7.4 million, followed by historical drama "Lincoln" starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the revered U.S. president, which grabbed 7.2 million from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates. James Bond's super-successful movie "Skyfall" landed in fourth place with 7 million. Kelly Clarkson, who became the first contestant to win "American Idol" a decade ago and went on to several chart-topping successes, has gotten engaged to her boyfriend, the singer said in a Twitter message on Saturday (December 15). Clarkson, 30, previously revealed she had been dating talent manager Brandon Blackstock since early this year. Blackstock is the stepson of country singer Reba McEntire.