“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first in Peter Jackson’s planned fantasy trilogy, generated $13 million in midnight ticket sales for Warner Bros. and partner Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

The movie, which opened today, grossed an average $4,193 per theater in North American locations, Hollywood.com Box- Office said today in an e-mailed statement, citing data from Time Warner Inc. (TWX)’s Warner Bros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael White in Los Angeles at mwhite8@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net