(Left to right) In the action comedy “Tropic Thunder,” a group of actors shooting a war movie includes novice thesp Sandusky (Jay Baruchel), rap star Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), pampered action superstar Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), an over-the-top Australian-born method actor who has gone to extremes to get into character, gross-out comedy star Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), and the film’s director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan).

The Ben Stiller-directed film, which stars Stiller, as well as Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black, beat The House Bunny into second place.

The Anna Faris-starring comedy still managed an impressive haul of $15.1 million (GBP7.55 million) in its first week, forcing another new opener, Death Race, into third place, with takings of $12.3 million (GBP6.15 million),

The Dark Knight kept its place in the top four, now boasting total U.S. takings of $489 million (GBP244.5 million). Animation Star Wars: The Clone Wars finished fifth with $5.7 million (GBP2.85 million).

The Longshots, directed by Fred Durst and starring Ice Cube, and The Rocker, starring Rainn Wilson, were the flops of the week; earning just $4.3 million (GBP2.15 million) and $2.8 million (GBP1.4 million) respectively.

Source: WENN