V for Vendetta stars a bald Natalie Portman

The film was produced by the Wachowski brothers, who made The Matrix. It took $26.1m (�14.8m) over the weekend.

Based on a graphic novel by British writer Alan Moore, V for Vendetta has received mixed reviews from critics.

Romantic comedy Failure to Launch, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, slipped to number two with $15.8m (�8.9m).

TOP FIVE FILMS IN US/CANADA 1. V for Vendetta - $26.1m 2. Failure to Launch - $15.8m 3. The Shaggy Dog - $13.6m 4. She's The Man - $11m 5. The Hills Have Eyes - $8.1m Estimated ticket sales Fri-Sun. Source: Exhibitor Relations

Disney's The Shaggy Dog, romantic comedy She's The Man and horror remake The Hills Have Eyes complete the top five.

Thank You For Smoking, a tobacco-industry satire, took $260,100 from a limited release in just five theatres.

Starring Aaron Eckhart and Maria Bello, the film made an average of $52,000 (�29,600) per screen compared with $7,800 (�4,400) for V for Vendetta.

Directed by Jason Reitman - the son of Ghostbusters' Ivan Reitman, Thank You For Smoking goes on nationwide release across the US on 7 April.

Steve Martin recreates the role of Inspector Clouseau

Overall box office revenue continued a month-long decline, with the top 12 films taking $93.8 million (�53.4m) - down 11% compared with the same weekend last year.

The Pink Panther, which opened to dire reviews, dominates box office takings outside the US and Canada with an estimated $12.3m (�6.9m) weekend total, according to industry publication Screen Daily.

The comedy remake, starring Steve Martin, topped the UK charts with a �2m debut, ahead of V for Vendetta in second place, with �1.19m.