NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS will start 2008 at the top of the U.S. box office, with takings of USD $124 million.

The Nicolas Cage movie took $35.6 million over the weekend, to keep it ahead of surprise hit Alvin and the Chipmunks, which rose to second place with opening weekend takings of $30 million. Not bad for an animation about some creepy looking rodents (ick)

I Am Legend (opening this week in the UAE) slipped to third, with weekend receipts of $27.5 million.