Borat scores surprise number one

Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen has been invited to Kazakhstan

Spoof Kazakh reporter Borat - aka Ali G comedian Sacha Baron Cohen - has scored a surprise box office hit in the US.

The film - with its naked wrestling and toilet humour - took $26.4m (£13.9m) in the US and Canada at the weekend, more than double estimated forecasts.

It was expected to open in the top five, but well behind The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, which opened in second place with $20m (£10.53m).

Borat opened in just 837 cinemas, while Santa Clause 3 debuted in 3,458.

Film industry insiders had not expected Borat - full title Borat: Cultural Learning of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - to be as popular with mainstream audiences.

NORTH AMERICAN BOX OFFICE 1. Borat ($26.4m) 2. The Santa Clause 3 ($20m) 3. Flushed Away ($19.1m) 4. Saw III ($15.5m) 5. The Departed ($8m) 6. The Prestige ($7.8m) 7. Flags of Our Fathers ($4.5m) 8. Man of the Year ($3.8m) 9. Open Season ($3.1m) 10. The Queen ($3m) Source: Exhibitor Relations

Santa Claus 3, starring Tim Allen as Santa, failed to match the $29m (£15.3m) start for its 2002 predecessor.

Animated comedy Flushed Away finished in third place with an estimated $19.1m (£10m), according to preliminary figures from Exhibitor Relations.

The Aardman Animations film, about a pampered pet rat who is flushed down a toilet, features the voices of Kate Winslet and Hugh Jackman.

Horror film Saw III, the top earning film from last weekend, dropped to fourth place with takings of $15.5m (£8.17m).

Director Martin Scorcese's drama The Departed, starring Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio, ranked fifth with earnings of $8m (£4.2m).

Scarlett Johansson's latest release, The Prestige, followed in sixth place with $7.8m (£4.1m).

Flags of Our Fathers, Man of the Year, Open Season and The Queen rounded out the top ten.