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LOS ANGELES - MONSTER movie 'Cloverfield,' about a giant lizard's attack on Manhattan, debuted at the top of North American box office this weekend, according to preliminary figures on Sunday.
The low-budget depiction of the fictional attack, filmed as if captured on a hand-held video camera, pulled in some US$41 million (S$59 million), according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
Wedding comedy '27 Dresses' about a woman's frantic search for the perfect bridesmaid's frock, came in second place with US$22.4 million.
In third place was 'The Bucket List' at US$15.2 million, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as elderly cancer patients on a quest to whittle down their life-long wish list before they 'kick the bucket.'
In fourth place was 'Juno,' the acclaimed independent comedy-drama about a teenager attempting to cope with an unplanned pregnancy, which took in US$10.3 million at US and Canadian movie houses.
Nicolas Cage's action film 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets' was in fifth place with US$8.1 million in ticket sales, taking its five-week total past US$198 million.
'First Sunday,' about a deadbeat dad scrambling to come up with bundle of quick cash, earned US$7.8 million for sixth place.
Debuting in seventh place was 'Mad Money' an American remake of a British TV movie, at US$7.7 million.
'Alvin and the Chipmunks' came in eighth place with US$7 million, netting a total of US$196 million since its release last month.
'I Am Legend,' starring box office icon Will Smith came in ninth place with US$5.1 million, for a six-week blockbuster total of US$247.7 million.
Rounding out the top 10 at were 'Atonement' (US$4.8 million); 'There Will Be Blood' (US$3.1 million) and 'One Missed Call' (US$2.8 million) in 12th place.
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