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 predictedthe 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.
