Nicolas Cage’s “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” the sequel to 2004’s successful “National Treasure,” hit gold at the North American box office, with initial five-day earnings amounting to more than $65 million, according to media reports.

The adventure film was directed by Jon Turteltaub and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Released Friday, Dec. 21, the film earned $65 million in ticket sales in its first five days, Reuters reports, citing a statement from Walt Disney Pictures released on Tuesday.

Nicolas Cage resumed his role as adventurous Benjamin Franklin Gates, treasure hunter and, apparently inevitable in the process of pursuing artifacts, detective. The cast also included Diane Kruger, Jon Voight and Justin Bartha, who co-starred in “National Treasure,” as well as Harvey Keitel and Helen Mirren.

Despite such a stellar cast, the film was poorly reviewed by critics. This did not discourage moviegoers from crowding theaters, helping the film earn $27.5 million by Dec. 24, internationally.

Bloomberg reports a slightly bigger total, of $65.4 million, quoting Media By Numbers.

Second on the chart is Will Smith's sci-fi thriller “I Am Legend,” with five-day sales of $47.5 million. Warner Bros. Pictures said this brings the film’s total earnings since its release on Dec. 14 to $150.8 million, reports Reuters. Bloomberg’s figure is $151 million.

The Twentieth Century Fox children’s film “Alvin and the Chipmunks” nestled comfortably at No. 3, $38.6 million, according to the same source, which quotes an e-mailed statement from box-office tracker Media By Numbers.

“Charlie Wilson's War,” starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, earned $16 million in ticket sales, finishing fourth. The political drama directed by Mike Nichols is based on real life facts and co-stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.

Tim Burton’s adaptation of the “Sweeney Todd” Steven Sondheim musical, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” took in $13.6 million, per Bloomberg, settling at No. 5. The film stars Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman.

Hilary Swank’s first attempt at romantic comedy, alongside Gerard Butler in “P. S., I Love You,” opened on Dec. 21 and had earned $9.1 million in its first five days, reports Reuters.

Three Christmas Day releases still await official box office results. Sci-fi film “Alien vs. Predator: Requiem,” the Denzel Washington drama “The Great Debaters,” and the family fantasy “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep.”