The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey could have been a silent film portrayed by modern dance, and fans would still have flocked to see it. So it comes as little surprise that it - free from silent dance narratives - topped the U.K box office charts, but it didn't manage to outdo it's processors: the might Lord of The Rings films. 

The first part of the Hobbit trilogy, reimagined by Peter Jackson, has taken £11.6 million in the UK since it opened last Friday, and all this despite receiving a mixed set of reviews from the critics. Some lauded its visual styles, whilst others demanded more in terms of substance. 

In comparison, the UK openings of Lord of the Rings films The Two Towers took £13.06 million over three days in 2002, and Return of the King earned £15.02 million over three days 2003. It's also worth bearing in mind that ten years of ticket price increases have taken place, too. 

Here's the full list of U.K box office performers. 

UK box office top ten

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - £11,601,538

2. Rise of the Guardians - £1,250,469

3. Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger - £938,309

4. Skyfall - £809,406

5. Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings - £528,820

6. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 - £509,872

7. Seven Psychopaths - £452,293

8. Silver Linings Playbook - £231,714

9. Argo - £108,384

10. Great Expectations - £100,137