Chicago, the winner of six Academy Awardsincluding one for best picture, became the highest grossing film in MiramaxFilms' 24-year history last night (Apr 14) after it passed $157.1m at thedomestic box office.

Themusical's record running total overtook Miramax's previous best of$157m set in 2000 by Scary Movie, which came out under the company's Dimension Films banner.

"We arevery pleased to have such a wonderful film, and have it recognised bothcritically, and by movie going audiences around the world," Rick Sands,Miramax's chief operating officer, said in a statement.

The previoushigh for a Miramax film was Good Will Hunting on $139m. The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love, Miramax's two previous best pictureOscar winners, grossed $79m and $101m respectively at the domestic box office.

Meanwhile theChicago soundtrack remained in the US top 10 (at number eight) for the 11thconsecutive week. It reached double platinum status recently for selling morethan two million copies.