The Mummy Returns is huge US box office hit

The Mummy Returns is a massive hit at American cinemas.

The film took more than $70m in its first weekend of release in the US.

It now stands just behind the Jurassic Park sequel The Lost World in terms of first weekend takings.

The Mummy Returns accounted for 70% of the weekend box office earnings among the top 10 films in the US.

Universal's head of distribution Nikki Rocco said: "It's a happy Sunday. A happy mummy's day."

The original film, The Mummy, took $43m (£30m) in its first weekend.