The Hobbit still rules at the box office

Audiences had their pick of genres during the Christmas weekend, but despite a host of fresh arrivals, splashy holiday fare like Unbroken and Into the Woods proved no match for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

The Interview, meanwhile, wowed with $15 million from its two million online rentals and purchases.

Universal’s Second World War epic Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, took second place.

“We’re all thrilled,” Nikki Rocco, Universal’s president of domestic distribution, said of the drama. “It’s a testament to how great this movie is.”

Disney’s musical Into the Woods, boasting a star-packed cast and a PG rating, came in a close third.

Sony’s The Interview also took in $2.8 million from 331 theatres since its opening on Thursday. About $1.8 million of that came from the weekend.

“I’m so grateful that the movie found its way into theatres and I’m thrilled that people actually went out and saw it,” said star Seth Rogen.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Rentrak: 1. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, $41.4 million 2. Unbroken, $31.7 million 3. Into the Woods, $31 million 4. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, $20.6 million 5. Annie, $16.6 million