Hellboy tops US box office

Comic book thriller bags $23 million in its opening weekend.

15:00 05 April 2004

Comic book adaptation "Hellboy" opened this weekend at the top of the US box office.

Starring Ron Perlman as a superhero conjured up by black magic and directed by Guillermo del Toro, the action film made an estimated US$23.5 million (12.9 million).

"Walking Tall", a remake of the 1973 vigilante justice tale starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, opened in second place with US$15.3 million (8.4 million).

Former chart topper "Scooby-Doo 2" sank into third place, taking US$15 million (8.2 million).

Disney's new animated adventure featuring the voices of Rosanne and Dame Judi Dench, "Home on the Range", opened in fourth place.

The film made US$14 million (7.8 million) and studio executives hope that the Easter holiday will boost attendances this week.

Teenage romantic comedy "The Prince and Me", which stars Julia Stiles, followed at number five.