Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen has been invited to Kazakhstan
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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.
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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
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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.