The Hobbit takes box office

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies has debuted at number one at the US box office.

The latest instalment of the fantasy franchise, directed by Peter Jackson, raked in $56.2 million this weekend.

The feature focuses on Sir Ian McKellen’s wizard character Gandalf and Martin Freeman’s hobbit character Bilbo as he fights to keep the dragon Smaug from acquiring the kingdom.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb debuted at two with $17.3 million.

The Shawn Levy adventure comedy stars Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais and the late Robin Williams as Ben’s character Larry embarks on a quest to save magic.

Movie musical Annie debuted at three with $16.3 million.

Will Gluck directs Quvenzhané Wallis in the title role, alongside Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne and Cameron Diaz, in the story of a foster kid whose life changes when she meets a business tycoon.

Exodus: Gods and Kinds plummeted from one to four with nearly $8.1 million.

Director Ridley Scott’s biblical picture stars Christian Bale as Moses, while Joel Edgerton takes on the part of Ramses in this classic Old Testament tale, which cost an estimated $140 million to produce.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 slipped from two to five, raking in another $7.8 million.

Jennifer Lawrence plays heroine Katniss in the series, which also stars Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, as Katniss questions whether to become the figurehead of a revolution after destroying the games.