"National Treasure" tops box office

LONDON (Reuters) - "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" opened at No. 1 at the box office, knocking monster movie "Cloverfield" off the top, according to Screen International figures on Tuesday.

The sequel to "National Treasure" of three years ago, with Nicolas Cage trying to clear his ancestor of murdering Abraham Lincoln, took 2.48 million pounds in its opening weekend.

That was just above the 2.0 million earned by the film in second place, Oscar-nominated "Juno," with Ellen Page as a teenager coping with pregnancy.

"Cloverfield", the story of a monster ravaging New York, was down in third spot.

Fourth, down two places, was "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" with Johnny Depp up for best actor at the Oscars later this month for his blood-soaked performance as the murderous hero.

New at five was the story of a boy, a monster pet and Loch Ness in "The Water Horse" while coming in at No. 6 was romantic comedy "Definitely Maybe," set against the background of the Bill Clinton election campaign.

Down four places at seven was "Over Her Dead Body," with Eva Longoria Parker of "Desperate Housewives" fame as a ghost determined to stop her former fiance falling in love again.

Also down four, at eight, was "Penelope" with Christina Ricci .....continued below

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At nine, down from five was another Oscar nominee, "No Country for Old Men," an ultra-violent story of theft, pursuit and murder in 1980s Texas.

In 10th place, down from seven, was "Alvin and the Chipmunks."

(Reporting by Steve Addison, editing by Paul Majendie)