PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - SUPERBAD RETAINS HOLD ON US BOX OFFICE

Teen comedy Superbad has retained the top position at the US box office for the second consecutive week.

The coming of age comedy grossed $18 million (£8.92 million) making it this year's third film to stay on top of the US movie charts after its opening weekend.

Blockbusters Spiderman Three and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End are the only other movies to stay at number one after their release.

Sony's president of distribution Rory Bruer told Variety magazine: "It's a great bookend for us. We opened this summer with Spider-Man 3 and we're finishing with Superbad."

The R rated film about three teenagers trying to purchase beer for a party cost less than $20 million (£9.91 million) to make.

This weekend saw three new releases at the US box office with Mr Bean's Holiday, which was released in the UK on March 31st, finishing ahead of the pack of new films with $10.1 million (£5 million) in takings.

This week's second new release action film War, which stars Jet Li, finished the week with $10 million (£4.95 million) and The Nanny Diaries, starring Scarlett Johannson, sold $7.8 million (£3.86 million) in tickets this weekend.

Spy thriller The Bourne Ultimatum was second at the box office this week earning $12.4 million (£6.14 million) to take its US total to $185.1 million (£91.75 million). While New Line Cinema's Rush Hour 3 finished third as its total ticket sales went to $109 million (£54.02 million) after earning $12.3 million (£6.09 million) in the week.