300 the world's top movie

War epic 300 is all conquering at the top of the US box office for a second successive week - and it has become the biggest film in the world too.

The instant cult film, which stars Scottish actor Gerard Butler as the leader of a band of heroic ancient Spartans, took in $31.2m (€23.5m) over the weekend to take its 10-day tally to a staggering $127.4m (€96m).

The film, based on a graphic novel by Sin City creator Frank Miller broke records last week when it claimed the third most successful opening for an R-rated movie, and became the month of March's biggest debut ever.

And, after wowing audiences in America, the period war film has turned its attention on the rest of the world; it's also the new number one box office pull in international markets, earning an added $15.6m (€11.7m) from chart-topping stands in 13 countries. It opens in Ireland, Britain, France and Spain this week.

Elsewhere on the new US box office chart, Sandra Bullock has scored the best opening of her career with psychological thriller Premonition, which debuted at number three behind John Travolta's Wild Hogs comedy, with a healthy $18m (€13.5m).