Ringing in the New Year

Lord of the Rings brings together hobbits and dwarves

The Lord of the Rings is trouncing all other movies in the first UK box office chart of the New Year.

The epic fantasy tale based on the first part of JRR Tolkien's adventures in Middle-earth took £7.8m in its second weekend of release.

This takes its total box office receipts to £23.6m since its release on 19 December.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone continued to attract audiences over the festive period.

Vinnie Jones stars in the remake of The Longest Yard

The film took £2.4m over the weekend period, bringing its total to £53.9m in seven weeks.

Vinnie Jones' prison flick Mean Machine entered the chart at number three, with takings of £1m.

It is the ex-soccer hardman's biggest role to date since his debut in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998.

American teen movie The Princess Diaries, starring Julie Andrews, slips one place to number four.

The only other new release which caught the attention of cinema-goers was the romantic comedy Serendipity starring Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack.

Sean Astin and Elijah Wood play hobbits Sam and Frodo

In at number five, it took £461,443 in its opening weekend.

Despite only showing on 35 screens in the country, Bollywood spectacular Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is at number seven.

The musical about an adopted boy falling out with his parents because of love took £270,774, bringing its total to £1.9m.

Oscar contender Nicole Kidman's supernatural horror The Others remains in the top 10 after nine weeks, while her other big hit of 2001, Moulin Rouge, re-enters at number 15.