'National Treasure' holds No. 1 spot for a 2nd week

"National Treasure: Book of Secrets" fresh off of its number one slot debute last weeks holds onto the number spot for a second week. In its second week at the top of the heap National Treasure took $35.6 million at the box office. With a return ensemble cast comprised of Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruge and the legendary John Voight as well as new to the adventure Dame Helen Mirren the fortune hunting gang became even more extraordinary at the weekend for the second week at the top of box office.

Although, Walt Disney Co.'s "National Treasure" sequel was down by 20% from its opening weekend it still managed to bring in $124 million within day 10 days of its release. It is set to more than surpass its 2004 released film which grossed $173 million domestically and $348 million worldwide.

The Christmas Day film releases gave much needed boasts to the sluggish fall film financial takings ending the year for business in Hollywood on an all time high. "It's being spread among three or four key movies, then another six or seven or eight below that, which is great," said Mark Zoradi, president of the motion-picture group at Disney, which released "National Treasure."

The top December released 12 movies took in $169.2 million which is significantly up by 18 percent from the final weekend of 2006, when "Night at the Museum" led the box office with $36.8 million. Hollywood has much to sing about as it will end the year’s film takings in total with record high revenues of approximately $9.7 billion. This is a substantial increase up from the previous best of $9.45 billion in 2004, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers.

In spite of higher prices at the box offices as well as the gas pumps, the revenue increase suggests that actual admissions were up only a small percentage more than in 2006 and were diminutive of Hollywood's record of 1.6 billion tickets sold in 2002. The holidays falling on Tuesday, are believed to be a major part in the box office upturn in revenue as many people have been taking five-day weekends. "It's turned into like a two-week-long weekend for the movie industry," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks," from 20th Century Fox, held firmly at number two with takings of $142.4 million. In third place was Warner Bros. "I Am Legend," starring Wil Smith as lone survivor and possible last man alive which reached an impressive $194.6 million. Other films to hit high notes at the box office included "There Will Be Blood," "No Country for Old Men" and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."