By Laurie A. Trotta

The Nicolas Cage adventure “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” handily took the title of highest grossing film on Christmas day, as Americans left their gifts under their trees and headed out for some Hollywood-style entertainment. According to CNN, “National Treasure” grossed $65.4 million over the five-day holiday weekend, the highest total for the year.

Santa was also good to other Hollywood movies as well over the Christmas holiday, delivering hearty box-office returns of more than 34 percent above the same weekend last year, CNN reported. Movies brought in a total of $160 million Friday through Sunday, compared to about $119 million for the same period last Christmas weekend. “I Am Legend” dropped to second place with a $47.6 million holiday-weekend take. The animated “Alvin and the Chipmunks” finished third with $38.6 million.

AddThis Story to Your Favorite Social Bookmarking Site!

Ticket Flipping's toolbox of ticket broker tools

The top 10 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Tuesday, as compiled by Media By Numbers LLC:
1. “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” Disney: $65,444,195; 3,832 locations, $17,078 average, $65,444,195 for one week.
2. “I Am Legend,” Warner Bros.: $47,685,378; 3,620 locations, $13,173 average, $150,950,671 for two weeks.
3. “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” Fox: $38,609,310; 3,499 locations, $11,034 average, $94,476,107 for two weeks.
4. “Charlie Wilson’s War,” Universal: $15,952,430; 2,575 locations, $6,195 average, $15,952,430 for one week.
5. “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Dreamworks/Paramount: $13,635,390; 1,249 locations, $10,917 average, $13,635,390 for one week.
6. “P.S. I Love You,” Warner Bros.: $10,048,349; 2,454 locations, $4,095 average, $10,048,349 for one week.
7. “Alien vs. Predator: Requiem,” Fox: $9,515,615; 2,563 locations, $3,713 average, $9,515,615 for one week.
8. “The Golden Compass,” New Line: $6,931,000; 2,953 locations, $2,347 average, $51,379,000 for three weeks.
9. “Juno,” Fox Searchlight: $6,817,494; 305 locations, $22,352 average, $9,802,170 for three weeks.
10. “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” Sony/Columbia: $6,257,174; 2,650 locations, $2,361 average, $6,257,174 for one week.

Top All-Time Christmas Grosses:
1. Meet the Fockers – $19.5M
2. National Treasure: Book of Secrets – $14.75M
3. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – $13.9M
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $12.3M
5. Night at the Museum – $11.7M

All-Time Top 5-Day Grosses During the Holiday Season:
1. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – $137.6M
2. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire – $119.7M
3. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone – $104.5M
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $102M
5. Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets – $98.4M
6. I Am Legend – $91.1M
7. The Matrix: Revolutions – $83.7M
8. The Incredibles – $77.4M
9. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring – $75.1M
10. The Chronicles of Narnia – $74.1M
11. Meet the Fockers – $70.5M
12. Monsters, Inc. – $70.3M
13. Nation Treasure: Book of Secrets – $68.1M (estimate)
14. King Kong – $66.1M
15. How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $63.5M
16. 8 Mile – $60.2M
17. Die Another Day – $55.3M
18. American Gangster – $50.6M
19. Alvin & the Chipmunks – $49.4M
20. Casino Royale – $49.1M

Sources: www.slashfilm.com
http://money.cnn.com/