PETER JACKSON - NARNIA TAKES OVER AT THE TOP OF THE US BOX OFFICE

Fantasy film THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH + THE WARDROBE has kicked off 2006 at the top of the US box office.

After being toppled by KING KONG over Christmas (05), the film, based on CS LEWIS' writings, returned to the top today after New Year's weekend takings were counted.

The film made an added $32.8 million (GBP18.2 million) to take the top spot, while PETER JACKSON's King Kong epic stayed in contention with $31.6 million (GBP17.5 million).

Comedy remake FUN WITH DICK + JANE also had a great start to the new year - it stayed in third place with second-week takings of $21 million (GBP11.6 million).

Rounding out the top five is family film CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2 and JENNIFER ANISTON comedy RUMOR HAS IT, which shot up from 10 to five in its second week on release thanks to weekend takings of $11.6 million (GBP6.4 million).