Hobbit defies box office predictions

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.

The Hobbit; The Battle of the Five Armies has topped US$355 million at the international box office after a week on release and a US$90 million five-day Wednesday-to-Sunday opening weekend in North America.

That has meant its projected earnings have been raised by one industry pundit which had earlier predicted the third film of Peter Jackson's second Middle-earth trilogy would be the smallest in the six film franchise.

Website Box Office Mojo had predicted Battle of the Five Armies would struggle to reach US$235 million at the American box office.

Today the website said it would ultimately earn at least US$270 million and outdo its predecessor, The Desolation of Smaug.

Hollywood industry magazine Variety said the film's US debut had trumped predictions of a US$70 million opening weekend.

Box Office Mojo also said the film could now gross more than $US1 billion in total, given the strong box office figures from territories outside the US.

So far Battle of the Five Armies has earned US$265 million outside the US in its 12 days on release.

The film is yet to open in Australia and China.