 The exhibits unexpectedly come to life during Night at the Museum |
Night at the Museum, a comedy starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais, was the most popular film at North American cinemas over Christmas. It generated $30.8m (�15.7m), more than twice the total of last week's number one, The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith and his son Jaden.
Rocky Balboa - Sylvester Stallone's comeback movie - opened with $12.5m (�6.4m) at number three.
A spy drama directed by Robert De Niro, The Good Shepherd, came fourth.
Describing the early days of the CIA intelligence organisation, it featured Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie and generated $10m (�5.2m).
 | NORTH AMERICAN BOX OFFICE 1. Night at the Museum ($30.8m) 2. The Pursuit of Happyness ($15.0m) 3. Rocky Balboa (pictured, $12.5m) 4. The Good Shepherd ($10.0m) 5. Charlotte's Web ($8.0m) 6. Eragon ($7.2m) 7. We Are Marshall ($6.6m) 8. Happy Feet ($5.1m) 9. The Holiday ($5.0m) 10. The Nativity Story ($4.7m) Source: Exhibitor Relations |
The other main release of the week, American football drama We Are Marshall, was in seventh place on the chart for the US and Canada.
Matthew McConaughey starred as a coach who rebuilt West Virginia's Marshall University team after a plane crash in 1970 which killed 75 players, coaches and fans.
Meanwhile several films received limited releases so they were screened during the eligibility period for the Oscars, held in Hollywood on 25 February.
Clint Eastwood's Japanese wartime drama Letters From Iwo Jima opened in five cinemas, while 60 locations showed Curse of the Golden Flower, from director Zhang Yimou.
Romantic tragedy The Painted Veil and Venus, starring Peter O'Toole, were also offered at a handful of cinemas ahead of far wider releases early in the New Year.
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