LOS ANGELES-
Tolkien fantasy epic “The Hobbit” enjoyed a second week at the top of the North American box office, comfortably beating out newcomers “Unbroken” and “Into the Woods,” according to industry estimates Sunday.
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” is the last of six films adapted from J.R.R Tolkien’s books, directed by Oscar-winning heavyweight Peter Jackson.
It took in $41.4 million over the weekend, its second week in theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations.
Following in second place was “Unbroken,” directed by Angelina Jolie, which tells the story of US bombardier Louis Zamperini, taken captive during World War II.
The film, which was snubbed at this month’s Golden Globe nominations, fetched $31.7 million in its debut weekend.
Not far behind was Disney’s “Into the Woods,” adapted from a Broadway musical, starring Meryl Streep as a witch who puts a curse on a childless baker and his wife.
The film, a modern twist on several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, raked in $31 million over the weekend.
In the number four spot was “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” the third movie in the Ben Stiller family-comedy franchise about a museum security guard trying to keep track of exhibits that come to life at the New York Museum of Natural History.
The flick earned $20.6 million in its second week in theaters.
In fifth place was “Annie,” about the adventures of an orphan girl starring Quvenzhane Wallis in the title role and Jamie Foxx as the tycoon who takes her under his wing. In its second week out, the movie brought in $16.6 million.
“Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” raked in $10 million, slipping into sixth place.
The sequel, one in the hugely popular series starring Jennifer Lawrence, has earned a whopping $306.6 million in its six weeks in theaters.
In seventh was newcomer “The Gambler,” raking in $9.3 million. The film stars Mark Wahlberg as a high-stakes gambler who offers his own life as collateral when he borrows from a gangster.
“The Imitation Game,” about a code-cracking mathematician and logician during World War II, was in eighth with $7.9 million.
Rounding out the top ten were Ridley Scott’s biblical blockbuster “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” in ninth with $6.8 million, and “Wild,” starring Reese Witherspoon, which earned $5.4 million.
Meanwhile, madcap comedy “The Interview” earned $1.8 million over the weekend, adding to the $1 million it raked in on its Christmas Day limited release.
The movie was snubbed by major theaters and only played in 331 independent movie houses, after threats from hackers who claimed a cyberattack of Sony Studios.
The movie was also released online for rental or purchase.
