Ring sequel top of the US box office

Horror sequel, The Ring 2, has defied critics to take the number one spot at the US box office.

Starring Naomi Watts as a mother haunted by evil deaths linked to a videotape, the movie knocked the animated Robots into second place.

The thriller took $36m (€27.4m) over the weekend, more than double its predecessor’s initial box office takings in 2002.

Directed by Japan’s Hideo Nakata, the horror flick is released in Ireland on April 1.

Robots, featuring the voices of Halle Berry, Robin Williams and Ewan McGregor, pulled in $21.8m (€16.6m), pushing The Pacifier, a surprise hit starring Vin Diesel, down into third place.

Disney film Ice Princess followed, while Will Smith’s romantic comedy Hitch held its own in fifth place for a second week.