Lollies mark Wonka premiere UK premiere pictures

It marked Depp's biggest film debut, despite competition from the worldwide publication of the sixth book in the Harry Potter series the same weekend.

The film compared well to recent debuts including Batman Begins, which took $48.8m (�27.9m) on its opening weekend.

Comedy Wedding Crashers opened at number two, with $32.2m (�18.4m).

Last week's number one, comic book blockbuster Fantastic Four slipped to number three, ahead of War of the Worlds and the Batman prequel which rounded out the top five.

US AND CANADA TOP FIVE 1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (above) 2. Wedding Crashers 3. Fantastic Four 4. War of the Worlds 5. Batman Begins Source: Exhibitor Relations

Overall ticket sales at the North American box office increased for the second consecutive week, after a slump in takings that lasted 19 straight weeks.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which sees Depp in the role of sweet pioneer Willy Wonka, is the second film adaptation of Roald Dahl's best-selling book.

Meanwhile, Dreamworks' latest animated success, Madagascar, has topped the international box office - just ahead of Spielberg's War of the Worlds - taking $143m (�81.8m) across 40 territories outside the US and Canada, industry website Screen Daily said.

The film, which features the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Friends star David Schwimmer, took �5.5m ($9.7m) in the UK alone, on its opening weekend.

Fantastic Four continues to do well internationally, with a running total of $44.7m (�25.5m), while Batman Begins has accumulated $142.8m (�81.6m) at the international box office since it made its debut last month.