DISNEY - RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN TOPS US BOX OFFICE

RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN TOPS US BOX OFFICE

Race to Witch Mountain has knocked Watchmen off the top of the US box office.

The Disney picture, a remake of the 1972 film Escape to Witch Mountain, starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson took $25 million (£17.7 million) on its first weekend on release.

The film sees Johnson star as a taxi driver who picks up a pair of alien teenagers and tried to protect them.

Superhero epic Watchmen took $18.1 million (£12.7 million), as ticket sales fell by almost 70 per cent compared to last week.

Another remake, The Last House on the Left, was the third biggest film of the week, taking $14.7 million (£10.3 million).

Liam Neeson's film Taken and director Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail made up the top five.

Commenting on Witch Mountain's success on its first week, Mark Zoradi, president of Disney's motion-picture group, said: "I think audiences this weekend were really drawn to the action adventure of Race to Witch Mountain.

"There was also this element of parents over 30 who remembered the original and were drawn to this one, so I think that combination is what helped us exceed what folks in the industry thought this movie was going to do."