 Smith plays the last man on Earth in the film |
Sci-fi thriller I Am Legend, starring Will Smith, has scored a record opening at the North American box office chart. The film, which sees Smith as the last man on Earth, brought in $76.5m (�37.9m) in its first three days.
It is the best December opening of all time, beating the $72.6m (�36m) start for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King in 2003.
Family film Alvin and the Chipmunks opened in second place with $45m (�22.3m), doubling studio expectations.
The high ticket sales for the top two films end a five-week slump in box office takings.
After topping last week's box office with $26.1m (�12.8m), The Golden Compass fell to third taking a disappointing $9m (�4.5m).
 | US AND CANADA BOX OFFICE 1. I Am Legend - $76.5m (�37.9m) 2. Alvin and the Chipmunks - $45m (�22.3m) 3. The Golden Compass - $9m (�4.5m) 4. Enchanted - $6m (�3m) 5. No Country For Old Men - $3m (�1.5m) Source: Media By Numbers |
Disney modern-day fairy tale Enchanted fell two places to four, while No Country for Old Men rose one spot to five.
Christmas films dominated the middle of the chart, with The Perfect Holiday in sixth, and Fred Claus and This Christmas in seventh and eighth respectively.
Keira Knightley drama Atonement jumped six spots to ninth place with nearly $1.9m (�943,000) after earning seven Golden Globe nominations.
Drama August Rush, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Freddie Highmore, rounded out the top 10 taking $1.8m (�894,000).
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