The Passion holds US box office

The Passion of the Christ was directed and produced by Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ has continued to dominate the US box office, keeping hold of the number one spot.

The film took $31.6m (£17.4m) over the weekend, according to early estimates, taking its total to date to more than $264m (£146m).

Johnny Depp's thriller Secret Window took $19m (£10.5m) to place it second in the box office chart.

Starsky and Hutch, starring Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller, fell to number three.

Malcolm in the Middle actor Frankie Muniz's spy caper sequel Agent Cody Banks: Destination London had a disappointing opening weekend.

US and Canada box office chart 1. The Passion of the Christ 2. Secret Window 3. Starsky and Hutch 4. Hildago 5. Agent Cody Banks: Destination London Source: Exhibitor Relations

It took $8m ($4.4m) over the three day period, just half the $14.1m (£7.8m) the original took in its first weekend last year, putting in fifth position in the chart.

The success of The Passion of the Christ, which has been accused of anti-Semitism, is being hailed for reinvigorating US cinema business.

Box office figures are 15% up on last year's, while they had been down before the release of Gibson's film.

"The Passion has single-handedly made what was turning out to be a pretty lousy year into a really good year so far," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.