A small hobbit racked up big ticket sales at the North American box office this weekend.

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" debuted with nearly $74 million, easily topping the weekend movie charts.

The much anticipated sequel in the "Hobbit" film trilogy follows Bilbo Baggins and a band of 13 dwarves.

They're on an epic journey that leads them to a clash with fire-breathing dragon, Smaug.

Walt Disney's animated fairy tale "Frozen" took the No. 2 weekend spot.

It features the voice of Kristen Bell as a Scandinavian princess and sold just over $22 million in estimated ticket sales, beating Tyler Perry's latest role as Madea.

"Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas" came in third for the weekend with $16 million in sales.

The wise-cracking grandma visits a small Alabama town where she meets a man played by Larry the Cable Guy.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" continued to pull in moviegoers.

But it's the prequel to the blockbuster "Lord o