Fairy tale enchants US film fans

Enchanted pokes fun at Disney's animated fairy tales

US cinemagoers have fallen under the spell of Enchanted, a modern-day fairy tale starring Amy Adams.

The Disney film, which sees a cartoon princess exiled to real-life New York, topped the US and Canada box office, taking $35.3m (£17m) over the weekend.

Second place went to family comedy This Christmas, which took $18.6m (£8.9m), while animated fantasy Beowulf dropped to third, taking $16.2m (£7.8m).

The top five was rounded out by action film Hitman and animation Bee Movie.

Early studio estimates suggest that the top 12 films took $218.1m (£105.5m) over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend, which ran from Wednesday to Sunday.

Film studios will be pleased at the figures, which come after a two month-long slump at the box office.

US AND CANADA BOX OFFICE 1. Enchanted - $35.3m (£17m) 2. This Christmas - $18.6m (£8.9m) 3. Beowulf (pictured) - $16.2m (£7.8m) 4. Hitman - $13m (£6.3m) 5. Bee Movie - $12m (£5.8m) Source: Media By Numbers

"This is good news for Hollywood," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office analysts Media By Numbers. "This could end up being the second or third-biggest Thanksgiving weekend ever."

Disney's Enchanted took $50m (£24.1m) over the five-day weekend, making it the second highest Thanksgiving debut ever.

Only Toy Story 2 has fared better, with receipts of $80m (£36.8m) in 1999.

It has gained overwhelmingly positive reviews, in particular for leading lady Adams, previously best known for her Oscar-nominated role in quirky comedy Junebug.

"She truly has just this incredible exuberance you don't often see on screen," said the film's producer, Barry Josephson.

"She is a big surprise for people who don't know her. It's a breakout role."

Enchanted is released in the UK on 14 December.