SAMUEL L JACKSON - SAMUEL L JACKSON THRILLER UNSEATS COENS AT US BOX OFFICE

Samuel L Jackson's new film Lakeview Terrace has knocked the Coen brothers off the top of the US box office charts.

Burn After Reading, the Oscar-winning duo's new comedy-drama, had debuted at number one last week but has been demoted to second after Lakeview Terrace took $15.6 million (£8.5 million) in its first weekend on release.

Jackson stars as an LAPD officer who disapproves of the interracial relationship of his next-door neighbours (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington).

My Best Friend's Girl, a romantic comedy starring Dane Cook and Kate Hudson, opened at number three with animated children's film Igor debuting at number four.

Ghost Town, a new comedy starring Ricky Gervais as a dentist who dies only to be revived with the power to see the dead, took eighth place with $5.2 million (£2.8 million) after its first three days at US cinemas.

Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracking firm Media By numbers, said late September was typically a "slowdown period" for movie grosses.

"The bar has definitely been lowered in terms of what movies are making," he added.

The top ten films at the US box office are: (last week's position)

1 Lakeview Terrace (-)
2 Burn After Reading (1)
3 My Best Friend's Girl (-)
4 Igor (-)
5 Righteous Kill (3)
6 The Family That Preys (2)
7 The Women (4)
8 Ghost Town (-)
9 The Dark Knight (7)
10 The House Bunny (6)