The film is based on one of Disneyland's most popular rides

The movie starring Johnny Depp is based on a popular ride of the same name at Disneyland theme park.

Directed by Gore Verbinski, it is set in the 17th Century with Depp playing a pirate called Jack Sparrow.

Since opening in the US on Wednesday the film has earned an estimated $70.4m ($42.2m).

In a good weekend for period adventures, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - a 19th Century action movie starring Sean Connery - was second with $23.3m (�13.9m)

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, last week's number one starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, fell to third with $19.6m (�11.7m). The film has now taken an estimated $110.5m (�66.2m) in 11 days.

Comedy sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon, took $12m (�7.2m) in fourth spot.

Fifth was Disney animation Finding Nemo, and in sixth was the Charlie's Angels sequel, Full Throttle, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu.

Faring less well than its fellow pirate adventure, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas was at number seven with an estimated $4.6m (�2.7m).