It took Leatherface and his chainsaw to stop The Hobbit's stranglehold on the top spot at the US box-office.

The horror sequel Texas Chainsaw 3D debuted at number one in the US box-office last week with $NZ27.6 million, according to studio estimates.

It picks up where 1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre left off, with masked killer Leatherface on the loose again.