The Bucket List has had success targeting an older audience

The comedy, which stars 70-year-old actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, took $19.5m (£13m).

Smash hit Disney movie National Treasure: Book of Secrets slipped from the top spot to number four.

The second most popular film was comedy First Sunday, about two bank robbers. It took $19m (£13m).

Off-beat comedy Juno - which was nominated for three Golden Globes - was in third place with $14m (£9.46m).

US AND CANADA BOX OFFICE 1. The Bucket List - $19.5m (£13.18m) 2. First Sunday - $19m (£12.84m) 3. Juno - $14m (£9.46m) 4. National Treasure: Book of Secrets - $11.5m (£7.77m) 5. Alvin and the Chipmunks - $9.1m (£6.15m) Source: Media By Numbers

In fourth place, Alvin and the Chipmunks took $9.1m (£6.15m).

British romantic drama Atonement, which won best film at the Globes, made number 10 after taking $4.3m (£2.91m).

There was also success for Daniel Day-Lewis's There Will Be Blood.

The story of greed and violence during California's oil boom took $2m (£1.35m), or $15,000 (£7,640) at each of the 129 cinemas showing the film - the highest of any movie on release.