The latest Austin Powers spy spoof, Goldmember, has smashed box office records in North America by taking in $71.5m (�45.6m) over its first three days.

The third film in the series set an opening record for a comedy, and has had the fifth-best opening for any film in North America.

The previous record was set by last year's Rush Hour II, which took $67.4m across the US and Canada.

US and Canada Weekend box office

1. Goldmember - $71.5m 2. Road To Perdition - $11m 3. Stuart Little 2 - $10.7m 4. Men In Black II - $8.7m 5. K-19: The Widowmaker - $7.3m 6. The Country Bears - $5.2m 7. Mr Deeds - $4.2m 8. Reign of Fire - $3.3m 9. Minority Report - $3.1m 10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding - $3m Estimates from Exhibitor Relations

And Myers, whose parents came from Liverpool, has enjoyed similar success in the UK with Goldmember taking �5.6m over its opening weekend.

The film went straight to the top of the UK and Ireland box office charts, knocking Scooby Doo and Stuart Little from the top positions.

"For the third instalment of a series to do this well is really quite unprecedented," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks box office statistics in the US.

"Usually after two, especially with comedies, the concept loses its lustre."

The film also took $3.5m (�2.2m) in Thursday night previews, pushing its four-day total past $75m (�47.9m).

It has already taken more than the 1997 original, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, took during its entire North American run.

Goldmember, which also opened in the UK on Friday, sees Mike Myers as both the bell-bottomed spy and numerous villains, including Dr Evil, Fat Bastard and the new arrival Johann van der Smut, a Dutchman also known as Goldmember.

Destiny's Child singer Beyonce Knowles and Sir Michael Caine also star, while a number of leading Hollywood stars including Tom Cruise, Danny DeVito and Gwyneth Paltrow make cameo appearances.

The studio behind the film said Goldmember's success is down to its predecessors' impact on film-goers, as well as a lack of competing comedies.

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"The characters are deeply rooted in American pop culture. They are likeable characters and Mike Myers is at the top of his game," said New Line Cinema's Rolf Mittweg.

Final North American figures will be confirmed on Monday, while news of how Goldmember has fared in the UK and Ireland is expected to be released on Tuesday.

Goldmember pushed Tom Hanks drama Road To Perdition, which took $11m (�7m), into second place in the US and Canada.

The only other new film to be released at the weekend, Disney live-action animal movie The Country Bears, took $5.2m (�3.3m).