Action film National Treasure: Book of Secrets, starring Nicolas Cage, topped the US box office over the weekend taking $45.5 million - a total that's higher than the combined takings of the three films behind it.
The action sequel toppled Will Smith's sci-fi thriller I Am Legend, which slipped to No. 2 with $34.2 million.
Kids film Alvin And The Chipmunks slipped to No. 3, Tom Hanks drama Charlie Wilson's War opened at No. 4, just ahead of DreamWorks' Tim Burton musical Sweeney Todd.
The latter two lead the nominations at the Golden Globes with five and four each, respectively. The awards take place on January 13.
Other new releases in the top 10 included Hilary Swank rom-com P.S. I Love You at No. 6 with a modest $6.5 million, and musical biopic spoof Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story at No. 8.