It is, by most accounts (especially mine) a superior movie to “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” But “The Desolation of Smaug” is tracking lower, with expectations reduced for its blockbuster opening weekend.

It won’t, Box Office Mojo declares, match the $84 million that the first film pulled. Unheard of.

Box Office Guru says $78 million, for much the same reasons. People were disappointed with the first film, and fool bore me once, shame on you, bore me twice…

Last night’s midnight shows did $5 million less than the first film. Over $8, close to $9, and word of mouth and reviews might help. But $80 seems to be the high end of expectations — “Thor” numbers, not “Avengers.”

“A Madea Christmas” is a terrible movie. Will Tyler Perry’s audience show up? It has a mostly white cast, and Madea. Is he expecting Larry the Cable Guy to pull them in? Black or white, Hispanic or Asian, try “Black Nativity,” people. A much better movie.

Predictions are $27 million for this one. Let’s hope that’s too high. He can do better than this, but YOU have to start demanding it.

Perry has already gotten rich off recycling his tired old stage comedies into cheap, dull movies. He doesn’t need your sucker money.