After a trio of weeks at the top of the box office The Hobbits have made way for the Oscar tipped Stephen Hawking bio-pic The Theory Of Everything.

The film had previews in the last week which pushed it to the top of the tree, had it not had those previews it would have stalled at number 2 and not debuted at the top, instead it makes it way to number 1 with £3.7 million.

Falling just the one place this week is The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies which only narrowly missed out on a fourth week at the top with a £3.2 million start to the year.

Sitting comfortably at number 2 the third and final Hobbit movie has so far racked up £36.7 million in the UK, and looks likely to beat Smaugs UK total.

Also new this week are - The Woman In Black Angel of Death at 4 - Birdman at 7

Historical charts

A year ago - After entering lower down the chart with preview screenings American Husle moves to the top of the box office knocking The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug down to number 2, Last Vegas was the highest new film at 4.

Five years ago - After giving up the top spot for a couple of weeks Avatar makes its way back to the top knocking Alvin and The Chipmunks The Squeakquel down to 3, Did You Hear About The Morgans? was the highest new film at 4.

Ten years ago - The Incredibles regained the number 1 spot after a couple of weeks away knocking The Polar Express down to number 5, highest new film of the week was Without A Paddle at number 4.

Fifteen years ago - There was no stopping The World Is Not Enough as it spent another week at the top of the box office, very little in the way of new releases meant that Fantasia 2000 was the highest new film right down at 13, and on limited release!

Twenty years of in the Month of January Interview With The Vampire was the big film with again with Star Trek Generations making an impress debut run at number 2.

Twenty five years ago Parenthood was the top film for January while When Harry Met Sally was the big new film for the month at number 2.

The festive period of 2014 has arrived and like each year where we have had a Middle Earth film, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies is the top film for the week.

A weekend gross of £4.2 million has pushed it's total gross to £28.8 million for it's UK run.

Highest new film of the week the Ridley Scott directed Exodus Gods and Kings, entering the box office chart at number 2 with a £2.6 million take.

Not a bad opening gross but a long way off some of Scotts other films, his highest of which is Hannibal which took £6.4 on it's debut weekend.

Other new films this week are Annie at 4 and Unbroken at 7.

Historical charts

One year ago - Last year The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was still holding the top slot while The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was the highest new film at 4.

Five years ago - Avatar left the top spot and fell into second place making way for Alvin and The Chipmunks The Squeakquel which debuted at number one.

Ten years ago - The Polar Express goes back to the top knocking Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events down to number two, the highest new film was National Treasure at four.

Fifteen years ago - The World Is Not Enough hung to the top of the box office like glue and the highest new film was Dogma which entered at three.