Hellboy tops US box office

Updated 10.52 Mon Jul 14 2008

Keywords: movie, chart, box office, film, Hellboy, sequel

The Hellboy sequel has topped the US box office, after taking $35.9 million (£18.1m) on its opening weekend.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army cost about $85 million (£42.9m) to make and exceeded the $23.2 million (£11.7m) budget of the 2004 original.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army cost about $85 million (£42.9m) to make and exceeded the $23.2 million (£11.7m) budget of the 2004 original

It stars Ron Perlman as a cigar-smoking demon who works as a US government agent to fight evil.

Both Hellboy films were directed by Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro, who enjoyed huge success in 2006 with his fantasy thriller Pan's Labyrinth.

Meanwhile, Will Smith's superhero comedy Hancock slipped to number two in the chart, followed by Journey to the Center of the Earth, starring Brenden Fraser, a new entry at number three.

Pixar hit Wall-E fell from number two to number four and Wanted, starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, fell two places to take fifth place.

Eddie Murphy comedy Meet Dave, made its debut at number seven, taking just $5.3 million (£2.7m) on its opening weekend.