The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug has continued its box office wizardry for the third week in a row.

Peter Jackson's second instalment in his new Middle Earth trilogy has held onto the US top spot for yet another week.

It has beaten off new competition from The Wolf of Wall Street, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and 47 Ronin to keep the ball rolling in style.

The newest Hobbit film - which stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular dragon Smaug - pulled in $29.9 million in its third week.

Frozen has become Disney's most successful US release since The Lion King as it moves into second place with takings of $28,845,000, while Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues dropped down to third with $20,150,000.

Jennifer Lawrence's new movie American Hustle has stayed steady in fourth, while The Wolf of Wall Street secured an impressive debut to round off the Top 5.



US box office Top 10

1. (1) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – $29,850,000

2. (3) Frozen – $28,845,000

3. (2) Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues – $20,150,000

4. (4) American Hustle – $19,550,000

5. (-) The Wolf of Wall Street – $18,510,000

6. (5) Saving Mr. Banks – $14,021,000

7. (-) The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – $13,000,000

8. (6) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – $10,200,000

9. (-) 47 Ronin – $9,869,000

10. (7) Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas – $7,400,000