Watchmen' takes lead at US box office

Watchmen has topped the US box office on its first weekend on release.

Zack Snyder's superhero movie, based on the Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons graphic novel, secures first place with a $55.7 million three-day haul. It is the third highest opening for a March release behind 300 ($70.9 million) and Ice Age 2: The Meltdown ($68 million).

Last week's number one Madea Goes To Jail slips to second place, while Taken, Slumdog Millionaire and Paul Blart: Mall Cop round out the top five.

Elsewhere, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience falls seven places from last week's runners-up spot with a 77% drop in ticket sales.

The US box office top ten:

1. (-) Watchmen - $55,655,000
2. (1) Madea Goes To Jail - $8,800,000
3. (4) Taken - $7,450,000
4. (3) Slumdog Millionaire - $6,925,000
5. (6) Paul Blart: Mall Cop - $4,200,000
6. (5) He's Just Not That Into You - $4,020,000
7. (7) Coraline - $3,313,000
8. (9) Confessions Of A Shopaholic - $3,121,000
9. (2) Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience - $2,785,0
10. (10) Fired Up - $2,600,000