Stiller's Night at the museum tops US film chart

Night at the Museum, starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais, was the most popular film in US cinemas over Christmas. The comedy about exibits coming to life in a Museum grossed $30.8m (£15.7m), more than twice the total of last week's number 1, Will Smiths The Pursuit of Happyness. Rocky Balboa - Sylvester Stallone's comeback movie - opened with $12.5m (£6.4m) at number three. Spy thriller directed by Robert De Niro, The Good Shepherd, came fourth, based on the early days of the CIA intelligence organisation, it stars Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie it grossed $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:BBCAnother new release that charted was American football drama We Are Marshall, was in seventh place on the chart in which Matthew McConaughey plays a coach who rebuilt West Virginia's Marshall University team after a plane crash in 1970 which killed 75 players, coaches and fans. Other films were given limited releases to be eligible for the Oscars, held in Hollywood on 25 February, of which was Clint Eastwood's Japanese wartime drama Letters From Iwo Jima opened in five cinemas, with limited locations showing Curse of the Golden Flower.