Kong triumphs over Aslan

The mighty gorilla has beaten the other king of the jungle in the US box office.

Blockbuster King Kong topped the American cinema charts over the Christmas weekend by narrowly beating Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

Peter Jackson's remake of the classic film of a huge gorilla that falls in love with a tiny blonde actress, played by Naomi Watts, scooped just over £18 million between Friday and Boxing Day.

But Aslan was hot on Kong's hairy heels, as the Chronicles of Narnia, adapted from CS Lewis' classic novel, took more than £17 million.

"It's a battle of the holiday blockbusters. It was very close for the number one position," said one movie boss.

Third in the chart was comedy Fun With Dick And Jane, which stars Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni as a married couple who become bank robbers to pay their bills.

Steve Martin's comedy Cheaper By The Dozen 2 was also popular with US audiences, and came fourth in the list of this year's Christmas movies.

The Family Stone, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, took fifth position with takings of just over £6 million.

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