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.
