LES MIS Opening Helps Set New Sales Record for Fandango

Fandango reports that Christmas Day was its best-ever single day for ticket sales, thanks to the blockbuster premiere of LES MISERABLES. The previous record was on May 4, 2012 with the opening of The Avengers. "Our record-breaking sales point to a tremendous variety of holiday film choices that are connecting with audiences," Fandango president Paul Yanover said in a statement.

Other films which boosted box office sales included Django Unchained, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Parental Guidance, and This Is 40. Les Mis opened to $18.2 million, earning it the second-best Christmas opening in history. Django Unchained took in $15 million total while The Hobbit came in third place with $11.3 million.

Helmed by The King's Speech's Academy Award-winning director, Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman, Oscar winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, LES MISERABLES tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption-a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.