American Hustle knocks The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug off top of UK box office

David O Russell's crime drama grossed £3.4m in ticket sales in its first week

The fake team: Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle (Francois Duhamel/ Annapurna Productions)

American Hustle has topped the UK box office in its debut weekend of release, grossing £3.4 million in sales

The crime drama, directed by David O Russell and starring Christian Bale and Amy Adams as con artists, opened on limited release on 20 December before expanding to more UK cinemas on 1 January.

The storyline follows Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser as they are forced to work for wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso, played by Bradley Cooper. Jennifer Lawrence appears in a supporting role as Rosenfield’s neurotic wife Rosalyn.

American Hustle has been nominated for seven Golden Globe Awards and 10 Bafta Awards.

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Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug dropped into second place with takings of £3.2 million over the weekend, while Disney's Frozen fell to third with £2.9 million.

Comedy Last Vegas debuted in fourth place, earning £1.8 million and horror movie, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, entered in fifth with £1.58 million.

The UK box office top 10

1. American Hustle - £3,467,644

2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - £3,200,972

3. Frozen - £2,922,721

4. Last Vegas - £1,811,695

5. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones - £1,584,354

6. Anchorman 2: The Legend Contunues - £1,543,091

7. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - £1,472,500

8. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - £1,184,474

9. Walking with Dinosaurs - £757,637