'Ghost Rider' No.1 at North American box office

Nicolas Cage smiles as he receives a figurine of US Marvel comic "Ghost Rider" during a press conference for the movie in Tokyo, 21 February 2007.[AFP]

Nicolas Cage's comic-book adaptation "Ghost Rider" held onto top spot at the North American box-office for the second week, according to final figures released Monday.

The movie, which features Cage as motorcycle-riding vigilante Johnny Blaze, earned another 20 million dollars in the US and Canada, Los Angeles-based box office tracker Exhibitor Relations reported.

In second spot was Jim Carrey thriller "The Number 23" about a man who becomes obsessed by a book that appears to mirror his own life. The film opened in second place with 14.6 million dollars.

In third was fantasy fable "Bridge to Terabithia," based on the children's novel about two friends who discover a magical kingdom where they reign as king and queen. The film brought in 14.2 million dollars over the weekend.

Offbeat comedy "Reno 911!: Miami," a big-screen version of a US television show about an oddball gang of Reno police officers, earned 10.3 million.

Eddie Murphy's comedy "Norbit," which many pundits blamed for the comedian's surprise Oscar defeat in the best supporting actor award -- for "Dreamgirls"-- on Sunday, slipped two spots to fifth with 9.8 million in ticket sales.

Rounding out the top twelve were: "Music and Lyrics" (7.7 million); "Breach" (6.0 million); "Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls" (4.8 million); "The Astronaut Farmer" (4.5 million); "Amazing Grace" (4.0 million); "Because I Said So" (2.8 million); and "Night at the Museum" (2.2 million).

The 12 top movies combined grossed an estimated 100.8 million, up a bare half percent from last year's take the same weekend.