Hangover hangs on at US cinemas

The Hangover tells the story of a bachelor party gone comically awry

Las Vegas bachelor party movie The Hangover hung on to the top spot at the North American box office for a second weekend, early estimates show.

The film, which took $33.4m (£20.4m), narrowly beat animation Up - which took $30.5m (£18.7m) - into second place.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, a remake of the 1974 subway hijacking thriller with Denzel Washington and John Travolta, debuted at three with $25m (£15.3m).

Eddie Murphy comedy Imagine That opened at number six with $5.7m (£3.5m).

US BOX OFFICE TOP FIVE 1. The Hangover - $33.4m 2. Up - $30.5m 3. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 - $25m 4. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian - $9.6m 5. Land of the Lost - $9.2m Source: Hollywood.com

Ben Stiller comedy sequel Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian stayed at number four, taking $9.6m (£5.9m), while Will Ferrell's action adventure Land of the Lost fell from third to fifth with $5.6m (£3.4m).

Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, from box office tracker Hollywood.com, said total revenues for the weekend were $140m (£85.8m) - down 22% on the same weekend last year, when The Incredible Hulk led with a massive $55.4m (£33.9m).

It is the third weekend running that receipts have been down, despite a strong year for Hollywood.

Earlier in the year, box office takings were up 15% overall on 2008. The figure now stands at 11%.

"The growth rate for the summer box office is stalled - every week we're systematically dropping down," Mr Dergarabedian said.

"That doesn't mean things are terrible.

"It just means that, compared to last year, it was great weekend for The Hangover but not a great weekend for the industry."

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