SEX AND THE CITY - CARRIE AND CO TAKE US NUMBER ONE SPOT IN STYLE

CARRIE AND CO TAKE US NUMBER ONE SPOT IN STYLE

The long-awaited Sex and the City film has topped the US box office after its first weekend on release, grabbing the biggest-ever opening for an R-rated comedy.

The spin-off from the HBO series sees Sarah Jessica Parker reprising her role as sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw, with Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall also back on board - though the latter's participation was nearly prevented after contract disputes.

And with US female cinemagoers scheduling group trips to the cinema for the film - 85 per cent of audiences on Friday were female, according to Variety - the romantic comedy has claimed the number one spot across the Atlantic with $55.7 million (£28.3 million) in its opening weekend on release.

Dan Fellman, Warner Studios' president of domestic distribution, said the success of the movie revealed Darren Starr's creation was a "cultural phenomenon".

"What this shows is that given the right project, you can create a frenzy for the female audience, just like we are used to with boys and men," he told Variety.

"Now, I'm waiting for the sequel," he added. "And I think everyone else is too."

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull fell to second but still took a massive $46 million ($23 million) while new horror The Strangers debuted in third with $20.7 million (£10.5 million).

The top ten films at the US box office are:

1 Sex and the City $55.7m (£28.3m)
2 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - $46m (£23m)
3 The Strangers - $20.7m (£10.7m)
4 Iron Man - $14m (£7m)
5 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - $13m (£6.6m)
6 What Happens In Vegas… - $6.8m (£3.4m)
7 Baby Mama - $2.2m (£1.1m)
8 Speed Racer - $2.1m (£1.1m)
9 Made of Honour - $2m (£1m)
10 Forgetting Sarah Marshall - $1m (£500,000)