Despite some strong new competition from Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher and Judd Apatow’s latest chunk of comedy dysfunction with This Is 40, Peter Jackson’s return trip to Middle-earth dominated the American box office for a second week, with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey striking a rich vein of gold for a $36.7 million result.

Jack Reacher took second place handily, earning $15.6 million on its first weekend, likely signalling that it could well be the start of a new franchise for Cruise, though we’re guessing Paramount will wait and see if it continues to perform. Apatow’s new film underperformed compared to the rest of his canon, taking $12 million, less than even Funny People, which may not bode well for a healthy run.

Rise Of The Guardians continues to do decent, if not amazing business, enjoying being the only – well, the only new – animated release in the charts. It slipped to fourth place with $5.9 million. Lincoln was fifth with $5.6 million.

The Guilt Trip had a sluggish launch in sixth place with $5.3 million, seemingly proving that few cinemagoers wanted to take a drive with Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand. Monsters, Inc returned to cinemas in 3D, earning $5 million and hoping to drive more interest in next year’s prequel, Monsters University. Mike and Sulley continue to be popular Pixarians.

At eighth, Skyfall clings on in the charts, making $4.7 million, and staying ahead of Life Of Pi in ninth with $3.8 million. 10th place finds The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, which added $2.6 million for a $281.6 million running total.

To see a tough guy take on pint-sized heroes for chart supremacy, check out the full info over at Box Office Mojo.