( CM ) - Horton Hears a Who, the latest Dr Seuss adaptation to hit the big screen, has topped the US box office after its opening weekend on release.
The animated movie, featuring the voice talents of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, took $45.1 million (?22.25 million) in its first three days on release to knock last week's number one 10,000 BC off the top spot.
As well as earning Carrey his best box office opening in nearly five years, Horton Hears a Who - from 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios - secured the biggest debut of 2008, surpassing the $41 million (?21 million) earned by monster movie Cloverfield.
"It's a who-mongous opening," said Chris Aronson, 20th Century Fox's senior vice-president of distribution.
"Blue Sky has made a film that makes you feel like you are immersed in the pages of Dr Seuss' world. It is colourful and vibrant and so true to his work."
Mixed martial arts film Never Back Down opened in third while horror movie Doomsday was the next highest new entry, in seventh.
The top ten movies at the US box office are: (last week's position)1 (-) Horton Hears a Who - $45.1 million (?22.3 million)2 (1) 10,000 BC $16.4 million (?8.1 million)3 (-) Never Back Down - $8.6 million (?4.2 million)4 (2) College Road Trip - $7.9 million (?3.9 million)5 (3) Vantage Point - $5.4 million (?2.7 million)6 (5) The Bank Job $4.9 million (?2.4 million)7 (-) Doomsday - $4.7 million (?2.3 million)8 (4) Semi-Pro - $3 million (?1.5 million)9 (7) The Other Boleyn Girl - $2.9 million (?1.4 million)10 (6) The Spiderwick Chronicles $2.4 million (?1.2 million)