Steve Martin and Queen Latifah provide "escapist" comedy

The comedy, starring Martin as a lonely man who meets a prison inmate (Latifah) on the internet, took $22.4m (�14.4m) to hold the top slot, despite strong competition from a host of new films.

Agent Cody Banks, a comedy adventure spy parody, debuted at number two having taken $15m ($9.6m) in its first three days.

In third place was The Hunted, a serial killer thriller starring Benicio Del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones. It took $13.5m (�8.7m) to make number three.

Tears of the Sun, the Bruce Willis military thriller, is at number four in its second week of release.

US/Canada top five 1. Bringing Down the House 2.Agent Cody Banks 3. The Hunted 4. Tears of the Sun 5. Chicago Source: Exhibitor Relations

Chicago remains in the top five in the week before the Oscars ceremony. The film is nominated in several categories.

Willard, the remake of a 70s horror film about a disgruntled loner and his horde of man-eating rats, made number eight, taking �4m (�2.56m). It was the only other new film in the list.

Bringing Down the House has proven to be an unexpected hit.

"I think this is one of those classic situations where the public is actually moving the needle for us," said Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Disney.

"Voluntary word of mouth, people walking up to friends and saying 'I saw this really funny movie you've got to see'."

Hunted stars Benicio Del Toro as a crazed military hitman

The film's success is being attributed to the public's desire of escapist entertainment ahead of what appears to be an imminent war with Iraq.

"Bringing Down the House is a perfect antidote for what's going on in the world.

"You go in for an hour and a half and escape from the world situation," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office analysts Exhibitor Relations.