Chan and Li top at US box office

The Forbidden Kingdom features Li and Chan's first on-screen duel

The Forbidden Kingdom, a martial arts film marking the first teaming of Jet Li and Jackie Chan, has topped the US box office on its opening weekend.

The English-language film took $20.9m (�10.5m) in its first three days of release, according to studio estimates.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a raunchy sex farce starring British comedian Russell Brand, opened in second place with takings of $17.3m (�8.7m).

Prom Night, last weekend's box office champ, dropped two places to three.

Other new entries in this week's chart include 88 Minutes, which opened in fourth place.

Made two years ago and already released on DVD in some territories, the Al Pacino thriller received stinging reviews from many critics.

US AND CANADA BOX OFFICE 1. The Forbidden Kingdom - $20.9m (�10.5m) 2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (above) - $17.3m (�8.7m) 3. Prom Night - $9.1m (�4.6m) 4. 88 Minutes - $6.8m (�3.4m) 5. Nim's Island - $5.7m (�2.8m) Source: Media By Numbers

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, a documentary about intelligent design - the theory that claims some sort of supernatural designer was involved in the creation of life on Earth - was the weekend's ninth most popular film.

Another documentary - Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, the latest film from Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock - fared less well however.

Despite opening in more than 100 cinemas, the film made just $143,299 (�72,000).

Overall receipts were up for the first time in a month, with the top 12 movies making 12% more than this time last year.

"There is a collective sigh of relief in Hollywood," said Paul Dergarabedian from box office tracker Media By Numbers.

"This is overdue and much needed as we head toward the beginning of the summer season."

Films opening this week in the US include Deception, a crime thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor, and comedy sequel Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

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