JACK NICHOLSON and MORGAN FREEMAN’s buddy movie THE BUCKET LIST has ended NICOLAS CAGE’s treasure hunt at the top of the U.S. box office.

The movie veterans’ new film, about two cancer patients living it up before they die, soared to the top of the chart with a $19.5 million (£9.75 million) weekend take.

The Bucket List opened on limited release in America on Christmas Day (25Dec07). It expanded to nearly 3,000 cinemas at the end of last week (11Jan08).

Ice Cube comedy First Sunday opened close behind in second place with $19 million (£9.5 million), indie hit Juno came in third and Cage’s Disney film, National Treasure: Book of Secrets dropped to three after three weeks on top with an impressive $11.5 million (£5.75 million) weekend take.

The action adventure has grossed more than $185 million (£92.5 million) in America alone.