In a truly expected journey for Peter Jackson's latest film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey travelled to the top of the Box Office charts with gusto, while Twilight ended its 4-week stay in the top 5.

Topping the U.S Box Office charts, The Hobbit lived up to all its 'pre-match' hype, dominating by over $70m. To be fair to the other films around it, it was this weekends only major release. With $84.8m, Bilbo Baggins et al take the #1 with ease. Rise of The Guardians, sneaked into the #2 spot with $7.4m - and despite being that high, has still made less money cumulatively over four weeks than The Hobbit, with $71.4m overall. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln - hotly tipped to clean up at The Oscars come 2013 - rises one place to 3rd with $7.24m, while Skyfall - last week's #1 comes in at four with a round $7m. Life of Pi, another film set to light up the Academy Awards, especially for special effects and design categories, is #5 with $5.4m.  

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 is dwindling, and has dropped down to #6 despite being at #3 last week. It managed $5.1m this weekend, and can board $276.9m. Wreck it Ralph stays in the top 10, landing a #7 spot finish with $3.2m. Playing for Keeps, Red Dawn and Silver Linings Playbook make up the list with paltry sums.