THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Tops Movies on Demand, Week Ending 4/13

(RENT), the leader in precisely measuring movies and TV everywhere, today announced the top ten Movies on Demand (MOD) titles based on consumer transaction rate. Movies on Demand are transactional (pay-per-purchase) films available through cable and telco providers.

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is the second film in Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson's epic "The Hobbit" Trilogy, based on the timeless novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The first film, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," was released on December 14, 2012, and went on to become a billion dollar success at the worldwide box office. Now in its fourth week in release, the film remains in the top five in the U.S. and continues to ranked #1 internationally across 62 territories, with China releasing February 21, followed by Japan on February 28.

From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," the second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. The international ensemble cast is led by Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas. The film also stars Mikael Persbrandt, Sylvester McCoy, Aidan Turner, Dean O'Gorman, Graham McTavish, Adam Brown, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Ryan Gage, John Bell, Manu Bennett and Lawrence Makoare.

The screenplay for "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Philippa Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

According to the company's OnDemand Essentials service, the top ten most-viewed Movies on Demand titles, per data collected April 7, 2014 - April 13, 2014 are below.

Rentrak Top Ten MOD Titles:

RANK	TITLE	STUDIO	VOD RELEASE DATE	MPAA RATING	BOX OFFICE ($M)
1	The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug*	Warner Bros. (NYSE: TWX)	04/08/2014	PG-13	258.1
2	August: Osage County*	Anchor Bay Entertainment (LSTZA)	04/08/2014	R	367.1
3	Frozen*	Buena Vista (NYSE: DIS)	3/18/14	PG	398.4
4	The Wolf of Wall Street*	Paramount (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B)	3/25/14	R	116.9
5	Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues*	Paramount (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B)	4/01/2014	PG-13	127.4
6	Grudge Match*	Warner Bros. (NYSE: TWX)	04/08/2014	PG-13	29.8
7	47 Ronin*	Universal (NYSE: GE)	4/01/2014	PG-13	38.3
8	American Hustle*	Sony (NYSE: SNE)	3/18/14	R	149.9
9	Delivery Man*	Buena Vista (NYSE: DIS)	3/25/14	PG-13	30.7
10	Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones*	Paramount (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B)	04/08/2014	R	32.5

Source: Rentrak OnDemand Essentials, as dated, rank based on transaction. OnDemand Essentials includes reporting from operator partners on Television on Demand usage.

*Indicates day-and-date with home video release.

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