The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug has topped the UK box office on the final weekend of 2013.
Peter Jackson's Middle-earth sequel saw a 2% rise in ticket sales over the post-Christmas weekend (December 27-29) as it held off competition from Frozen (up a place from last week's number three) and Anchorman 2 to secure first place.
The Hobbit, the second of three films based on JRR Tolkien's novel, has now earned £29.3 million from UK cinemas on its three weeks on theatrical release.
The fantasy epic's predecessor, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, closed out its cinema run earlier this year with a £52 million cumulative haul.
Elsewhere, this week's top ten saw new entries in the form of Boxing Day releases The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Keanu Reeves's 47 Ronin.
With earnings of £2.2 million, star/director Ben Stiller's Mitty trails some way behind the £8.5 million the actor's Little Fockers earned over the festive season in 2010. The latter film, however, had the benefit of weekday preview screenings.
All Is Lost, Robert Redford's one-man survival drama, opened to £231,595 from its 89 locations to land just outside the top ten at 11.
Justin Bieber's latest documentary movie Believe debuted at number 14 with £205,242 from 103 locations. The Jon M Chu-directed film falls short of matching the opening for the popstar's Never Say Never, which opened with £625,496 in early 2011.
The UK box office top ten in full:1. (1) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - £5,450,824
2. (3) Frozen - £3,518,099
3. (2) Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues - £2,563,375
4. (-) The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - £2,235,612
5. (-) 47 Ronin - £1,415,252
6. (4) Walking with Dinosaurs - £936,458
7. (6) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - £819,683
8. (5) Dhoom 3 - £424,637
9. (7) The Harry Hill Movie - £404,946
10. (9) Gravity - £363,143
Source: Rentrak 
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:42 pm