'Superbad' beats North America box-office traffic

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Teenage sex-capade "Superbad" opened to take top spot in the North American box-office with 31.2 million dollars this weekend, overtaking Jackie Chan's action sequel "Rush Hour 3," according to preliminary figures yesterday.

The new teen comedy directed by Greg Mottola stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as two socially inept friends and tracks their sexual escapades in different universities.

"Rush Hour 3," third instalment of the martial arts and cop comedy co-starring Chris Tucker, which last week opened in top place, came second this weekend with 21.8 million dollars in ticket sales, according to box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

"The Bourne Ultimatum," another third sequel and fast-paced action thriller starring Matt Damon, moved to third place with 18.9 million dollars.

It was followed, in fourth place, by the big-screen adventures of America's most dysfunctional animated family in "The Simpsons Movie," which pulled in 6.7 million dollars.

Science-fiction thriller and also boxoffice newcomer "The Invasion," starring Nicole Kidman as a psychiatrist who discovers an alien epidemic, held fifth place with just over six million dollars.

In sixth place with 5.2 million was "Stardust," a fantasy drama featuring Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes and Peter O'Toole.

In seventh place with 4.3 million was "Hairspray," a makeover of the Broadway musical with John Travolta dancing in high heels as Edna Turnblad.

Trailing were Disney's "Underdog," in eighth place (3.6 million), "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," in ninth (3.54 million), and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," in 10th (3.49 million).