BEN STILLER - TROPIC THUNDER TOPPLES DARK KNIGHT

TROPIC THUNDER TOPPLES DARK KNIGHT

The new Ben Stiller comedy, Tropic Thunder, has replaced The Dark Knight at the top of the US box office.

The comedy about a Vietnam film, starring Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr and Steve Coogan, was released on Wednesday and grossed $26 million (£13.9 million) during its first weekend, making $37 million (£19.79 million) in total.

The Dark Knight fell to number two in the chart, after a four-week run at the top.

Christopher Nolan's second Batman film took $16.8 million (38.9 million) in its fifth weekend on release.

Despite being dethroned The Dark Knight broke yet another box office record, becoming the second-highest-grossing US film ever, according to Media By numbers.

James Cameron's Titanic remains the biggest film in the US with taking of $601 million (£322 million).

Star Wars: The Clone Wars opened in third place in this week's chart, taking $15.5 million (£8.3 million).

Keifer Sutherland's Mirrors was the fourth biggest film in the US with earnings of $11.1 million (£6million).

And Seth Rogen's new film Pineapple Express made up the top five after taking $10 million (£5.36 million).