Lord of the Rings could break all records

Ticket sales hit $30.8m (�17.1m) over the weekend period, taking its total to $292m (�162m) in the US alone.

Worldwide it has taken $677m (�376m). Its predecessor, The Two Towers, eventually took $921m (�512m).

The only new entry in the top 10 was UK comedy Calendar Girls at number nine, after it expanded to 745 screens.

The movie, starring Dame Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, took $4.6m (�2.4m) over the weekend.

US/Canada top five films 1. The Return of the King 2. Cheaper by the Dozen 3. Something's Gotta Give 4. Cold Mountain 5. Paycheck

Steve Martin's comedy Cheaper by the Dozen remained at number two, with takings of $21.9m (�12.1m).

And Jack Nicholson's Something's Gotta Give rose one place to number three, swapping places with the Oscar-tipped Civil War drama Cold Mountain, starring Nicole Kidman and Jude Law at four.

Making up the top five was sci-fi thriller Paycheck, starring Ben Affleck and Uma Thurman.

Releases this week which should invigorate the box office include Girl With a Pearl Earring; Monster, about the life of serial killer Aileen Wuornos; and Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton.