End of Watch -- the hit film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, written and directed by David Ayer, which opened to number one at the box office in September 2012 -- will return to theaters nationwide on December 7, 2012. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films.

End of Watch was produced by David Ayer's Crave Films, v under his Le Grisbi Productions, and Nigel Sinclair and Matt Jackson of Exclusive Media who also financed the film, in association with Emmett/Furla Films.

End of Watch, which earned the Critics' Choice distinction from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, recently won nominations from the Film Independent Spirit Awards for Best Supporting Actor for Michael Peña and Best Cinematography for Roman Vasyanov.

Roger Ebert recently named End of Watch one of the best films of 2012.

"Jake Gyllenhaal's image-transforming work as a very tough cop in David Ayer's End of Watch may help the film win a Best Picture slot, and Michael Peña is no less effective as his partner in a dangerous Los Angeles police district. They forge a relationship during a series of brilliantly-staged action sequences."

Here's what Open Road Films CEO Tom Ortenberg had to say in a statement.

"Audience and critical response to End of Watch has been incredible. We are thrilled about the success of the movie to date and hope that this will be a new opportunity for audiences to discover End of Watch and for the film to be seen again on the big screen for awards consideration."

Producer Nigel Sinclair also chimed in regarding the news.

"End of Watch has been one of the most rewarding films I have ever worked on. It connects emotionally with audiences in a very special and unique way and, alongside my fellow producers David Ayer, John Lesher and Matt Jackson, and distribution partner Open Road, could not be prouder to have brought this film to the big screen."

Members of the following film industry guilds and awards organizations will be able to use their official guild cards for free entrance to see End of Watch (depending on individual theater policies): AMPAS, ACE, ADG, ASC, BAFTA, CAS, DGA, HFPA, MPEG, MPSE, PGA, SAG NOM COM, WGA.

Lauded by critics when it hit theaters in September 2012, Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly called End of Watch "Sharp" and "Visceral." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote, "[End of Watch] Bristles with life," and Newsweek called the film, "Riveting." Karen Durbin of Elle wrote, "Gyllenhaal's and Peña's chemistry is pitch-perfect."

Exclusive Media holds worldwide distribution rights. Open Road Films is the U.S. distributor. Executive producers are Guy East and Exclusive Media's Tobin Armbrust, Jake Gyllenhaal, Adam Kassan, Chrisann Verges, Randall Emmett and George Furla of Emmett/Furla Films, Stepan Martirosyan and Remington Chase.