The phenomenon that is Harry Potter continues to exceed expectations in the UK, dropping a mere 13% on its second weekend and becoming the second highest earner of the year so far with its $41m to date. To put the film's astonishing results into context: in just 10 days Potter has already grossed more than another 2001 kids favourite Shrek, which has taken $40.8m after 22 weeks on release.

Four new releases made the top 15 this week led by Entertainment's Robert Redford/Brad Pitt starrer Spy Game at number two. The latest from director Tony Scott, Spy Game scored a strong $1.4m (£1m) from 267 sites for an average of $5,380. Entertainment is preparing to release a string of high profile titles in the coming months including next month's The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, January's Ali starring Will Smith, and February's Robert Altman title Gosford Park and Martin Scorsese's Gangs Of New York.

Also opening will vigour was another Warner Bros release, David Mamet's Heist. Starring an impressive cast including Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito and Delroy Lindo, the film claimed $141,167 (£100,229) from just 34 sites for a powerful average of $4,152 and ninth position. John Singleton's Baby Boy, distributed by Columbia TriStar, had an equally good average launching into number 13 with $66,400 from 21 sites, an average of $3,162. This far out-performed another Columbia release, Glitter, which took just $26,865 from 41 sites for a weak average of $655.

Taking the number 15 slot was Momentum Pictures' UK drama Me Without You, starring Anna Friel and Michelle Williams. The film managed $61,493 from 30 sites. Unable to make the chart but promising good numbers when it is released wider next weekend, was BVI's two screen release of Apocalypse Now - Redux. The 50 minute longer version of Francis Ford Coppola's classic Vietnam film saw figures of $46,097, with a Potter-esque average of $23,049.