THE second movie in The Hobbit trilogy was the biggest box-office hit in US cinemas over Christmas, although takings are down on the first film.
Sir Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was the top-grossing film in the US on Christmas Day, heading off five new releases including Martin Scorsese'sThe Wolf of Wall Street.
After 13 days in US cinemas, Smaug earned $US9.32 million ($10.51 million) on the day - 17 per cent less than its Hobbit predecessor An Unexpected Journey on Christmas Day last year, according to Box Office Mojo website.
It estimates that Smaug grossed more than $US149 million in the US up to and including Christmas Day and more than $US276 million in the rest of the world as of last Saturday.
But the worldwide takings for most countries are recorded only up to December 15, after Smaug had opened as No.1 at the weekend box office in many countries including Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, South Korea and the UK, as well as its Middle-earth home in New Zealand.
The film opened in Australia on Boxing Day, making $5.46 million in ticket sales in 629 cinemas, distributor Roadshow films says.
That was also less than An Unexpected Journey, which took $5.92 million when it opened in Australia on Boxing Day 2012.
