Films slump in US

Hardball has a tear-jerker twist in the story

The baseball film Hardball has spent a second week at the top of the US and Canadian box offices, according to preliminary figures.

But overall ticket sales slumped amid fears over the possibility of renewed attacks on the US and a lack of new films.

US box office top five

1. Hardball

2. The Others

3. The Glass House

4. Rush Hour 2

5. The Musketeer

Many film-goers also stayed in for Friday's telethon to raise money for victims of the 11 September attacks.

The charity event was watched by up to 89 million people.

The one new film which did get a nationwide release, Mariah Carey's Glitter, made just $2.5m (£1.7m) after a critical drubbing - and failed to reach the top 10.

Hardball, starring Keanu Reeves, took $8.2m (£5.6m) in its second weekend of release, bringing its total box office take to $19.4m (£13.3m).

The Others: Produced by Kidman's ex-husband Cruise

Moving into second place from fifth was Nicole Kidman's The Others, with an estimated weekend take of $5.2m (£3.6m).

Two Can Play At That Game dropped out of the top five, while Rush Hour 2 - which topped the chart in August - returned to number four.

Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office trackers Exhibitor Relations, blamed the poor box office figures on fears about the recent attacks, the lack of new films and the Friday night celebrity television telethon.

"There were more stars in that than in any film in the marketplace," Mr Dergarabedian said.