LOS ANGELES (AP):

The dance flick Stomp the Yard retained its top spot at the box office for a second week, but a handful of small films were boosted by their success at the Golden Globes.

The Fox Searchlight film The Last King of Scotland was the biggest beneficiary as the studio shrewdly expanded the art house film from four theatres to 495, anticipating a good performance at the Globes. The movie took in an estimated $1.8 million from Friday to Sunday.

Forest Whitaker was named best actor in a drama for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. He also is considered a favourite for an acting Oscar.

Babel, from Paramount Vantage, increased its ticket sales 500 per cent from last weekend after the film, an ensemble piece featuring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, won best drama honours at the Globes.

The film, which initially didn't make the list of top 20 box office earners, jumped to 12th place this weekend with $2.3 million, according to studio estimates, bringing its 13-week take to $24 million.

The Miramax drama The Queen also got a huge lift, jumping 233 per cent from last week to the ninth spot after its star, Helen Mirren, won two Golden Globes, one for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, and as Queen Elizabeth I in a TV miniseries.

Another smaller film, the wartime fantasy Pan's Labyrinth, from Picturehouse, a division of Time Warner Inc., saw its weekend gross jump 118 per cent, moving it from 18th place last week to seventh place this weekend with $4.7 million.

The film, from Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, has won numerous awards, although it lost last week in the best foreign-language film category at the Globes to the Clint Eastwood Japanese-language war film Letters From Iwo Jima. Films are expected to be nominated tomorrow for the Academy Awards.

Top 10 Box office movies

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