Cage's Treasure trove

It was good news again for Nicholas Cage movie National Treasure as it kept off the competition and stayed on top of the US box office for the third w

17:06 06 December 2004

It was good news again for Nicholas Cage movie National Treasure as it kept off the competition and stayed on top of the US box office for the third week running.

Jerry Bruckheimer's glossy action adventure about a hunt for an ancient artefact has now racked up a whopping $110 million - making the collaboration between the two action movie veterans the most successful so far.

In second this week was Joe Roth's Christmas With The Kranks, a family friendly festive offering starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. Although poorly reviewed, the comedy has succeeding in winning the hearts of US cinema-goers and has brought in takings of $45 million in just two weeks.

Up one place from last week was another Christmas marvel, The Polar Express, whose groundbreaking animation, voiced by Tom Hanks, has brought in $100 million in its first month.

All of which means the previous high flier The Incredibles has sunk down to fourth place - but Pixar are unlikely to be concerned about the drop, having banked box office sales of an astonishing $226 million so far.

Next up is Spongebob Squarepants Movie, with $68 million, followed by new entry Closer, starring Natalie Portman.