July 13, 2010 11:07

'Despicable Me' topples 'Twilight' at US box office

Robert Pattinson and co lose top spot

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse has been knocked off the top of the North American box office after one week by animated 3D film Despicable Me. The new number one took £40.2m in its first week, dwarfing the £22.3m made by Eclipse in its second week, reports Box Office Mojo.

Despicable Me tells the story of a villain, played by Steve Carell, who plans to steal the moon. The film also features the voices of Russell Brand and Julie Andrews.

The film's box office success has surprised studio executives, who expected a smaller opening week profit.

Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal, said: "$30m would have been a win for the studio. I would never have said $50m-plus."

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse still has an impressive box office return. According to box office tracker Hollywood.com, it has now made £158.2m in its first 12 days and is expected to surpass the second film in the franchise, New Moon, which grossed £198m last year.