LOS ANGELES (AP) – The final installment of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy continued to reign at the box office despite a handful of new openings as Hollywood had its best Christmas weekend ever.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” pulled in $51.2 million in ticket sales for a total of $224 million since opening two weeks ago, according to studio estimates released Sunday.

The fantasy film also posted the best Christmas Day gross of any current movie, $14.6 million.

Out of the gate, the movie also has outstripped the first two chapters of the trilogy. It took just 11 days to cross the $200 million mark – one day less than part two, “The Two Towers.”

Four movies opened over the holiday weekend, including “Cheaper by the Dozen.” The Steve Martin comedy was No. 2 with $28.2 million over the weekend.

The Civil War epic “Cold Mountain” opened in third place with $14.5 million. The R-rated, 21/2-hour movie opened on 2,167 screens.

“Paycheck,” a summer-style action movie, opened with $13.9 million, and “Peter Pan,” a live-action retelling of the classic story, grossed $11.4 million.

The total estimated weekend box office receipts for the top dozen pictures was $168.6 million, a record, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracking company Exhibitor Relations.

The top 12 movies over the same weekend last year pulled in $155.9 million, or 8.2 percent less, he said.

The film is adapted from Charles Frazier’s Civil War best seller of the same name. It is a reimagining of Homer’s “The Odyssey,” in which a wounded Confederate deserter (Law) makes his way home to his sweetheart (Kidman).

“That’s a film that will still be around when Oscar nominations are announced” in late January, Dergarabedian said.

1. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” $51.2 million.

2. “Cheaper By the Dozen,” $28.2 million.

3. “Cold Mountain,” $14.5 million.

4. “Something’s Gotta Give,” $14.2 million.

5. “Paycheck,” $13.9 million.

6. “Mona Lisa Smile,” $11.5 million.

7. “Peter Pan,” $11.4 million.

8. “The Last Samurai,” $8.4 million.

9. “Bad Santa,” $4.5 million.

10. “Elf,” $4.3 million.