'Snakes' slithers to top of US box office

Much-hyped movie Snakes on a Plane slithered to the top of the US box office this weekend - but with a more modest $15.25m (€11.8m) opening weekend than expected.

The film had received huge buzz on the Internet before it's opening, with some people predicting box office receipts of up to the $30m (€23m) mark for its opening weekend.

Snakes narrowly beat Will Farrell's comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, which took in $14.1m (€10.9m) knocking it into second place after two weeks at the top.

Oliver Stone's World Trade Centre grabbed the number three spot with $10.8m (€8.3m).

Teen comedy Accepted, about slackers who start their own university, debuted at number four with $10.1m (€7.8m).

The weekend's other new release, Material Girls, starring Hilary and Haylie Duff as cosmetic company heiresses, opened at number nine with $4.6m (€3.5m).