Mall Cop steals top spot at U.S. box office

Comedy star KEVIN James' new film PAUL BLART: MALL COP has wrestled its way to the top spot of the U.S. box office - taking in £22.7 million in its opening weekend (17/18Jan09).

The film, in which James plays an over-zealous security guard, knocked Clint Eastwood's latest directorial/acting offering Gran Torino into second place - one week after the drama became the biggest opening movie of Eastwood's career with takings of £19.5 million.

Torino's second week in theatres earned the film another £14.9 million, beating out new horror film My Bloody Valentine 3-D, starring Jaime King, which took in £14.7 million.

New release Notorious, about late rapper Notorious B.I.G., wrapped up the fourth spot, taking in £14.4 million.

And taking the fifth spot, Lisa Kudrow's family film Hotel for Dogs took in £11.9 million on its opening weekend. (JMA/WNWA/AV)

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