Festive farce rules US box office

Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn star in the comedy

Festive comedy Four Christmases has topped the North American box office for a second consecutive week, according to early studio estimates.

The film, starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn as a couple who divide their holiday among each of their divorced parents, took $18.2m (�12.2m).

Vampire film Twilight moved up the chart one place to number two taking $13.2m (�8.8m) in its third weekend.

Disney canine cartoon Bolt fell one spot to three, managing $9.7m (�6.5m).

After a disappointing start in its opening weekend, big-budget epic Australia rose one place to number four with $7m (�4.7m), bringing its 12-day tally to $30.9m (�20.6m).

NORTH AMERICAN BOX OFFICE 1. Four Christmases - $18.2m 2. Twilight - $13.2m 3. Bolt - $9.7m 4. Australia - $7 5. Quantum of Solace - $6.6m 6. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - $5.1m 7. Transporter 3 - $4.5m 8. Punisher: War Zone $4m 9. Cadillac Records - $3.5m 10. Role Models - $2.6m Source: Media by Numbers

The period romance, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, reportedly cost upward of $125m (�83m) to produce, and is hoping for awards season attention to boost business.

James Bond film Quantum of Solace slipped one place to number five.

Only one new movie opened in full wide release - action tale Punisher: War Zone, which opened at number eight with $4m (�2.7m).

Based on Marvel Comics' The Punisher, the movie stars Ray Stevenson in the title role as a vigilante hero going up against a crime boss.

In a narrower release, music saga Cadillac Records took $3.5m (�2.3m) to make its debut at number nine.

The film, featuring Beyonce Knowles, as singer Etta James opened in just 686 cinemas. Films on wide release in the US and Canada usually open on about 3,000 screens.

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