MUMBAI: This weekend Nicolas Cage’s latest action adventure film National Treasure: Book of Secrets claimed the number one spot at the North American box office. Along with other releases, I Am Legend and Alvin and the Chipmunks, the threesome accounted for two-thirds of all business in the marketplace. 
 
Cage posted one of the best openings of his career with National Treasure: Book of Secrets which debuted on top with an estimated $45.5M from an aggressive launch in 3,832 theaters. The Disney sequel averaged a stellar $11,874 which was almost identical to the first weekend average of $11,648 for its predecessor National Treasure which opened in November 2004 with $35.1M from 3,017 play dates. That film went on to gross $173M domestically and $347M worldwide. Book of Secrets hopes to exceed both totals by the end of its run giving the studio another lucrative franchise. Cage’s previous best bow was $45.4M for last February’s Ghost Rider so if estimates hold, Secrets will eke out a new career high for the actor. 
 
Walt Disney Pictures’ adventure was the only new picture appealing to a broad range of moviegoers, much like last Christmas’ Night at the Museum. While the premise of clearing a family’s name may not have seemed as exciting as the first movie’s historical treasure hunt, Book of Secrets retained the spirit of its predecessor in the marketing, and its strong start was a testament to the goodwill generated by that picture’s success, much like the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.