SEX And the City: The Movie, the long-awaited film version of the popular HBO television series, opened – as predicted – in top spot at the US box office over the May 30 to June 1 weekend (2008), but with better-than-expected figures.

The two and a half hour film amassed estimated sales of $55.7 million, according to US distributor Warner Bros. Pictures on Sunday, which is considerably more than the $25 to $35 million the studio was hoping for over the three-day period.

The film picks up a couple of years after the show’s original finale and finds all four leads facing big lifestyle choices. It was released in cinemas four years after the show’s conclusion.

But such is the devotion of its TV fans, cinemas were filled with women who had organised “girls’ nights out” to catch up with their heroines’ ongoing exploits. This was despite lukewarm reviews suggesting the film was a step too far.

Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull, meanwhile, raked in a further $46 million at the box office, taking its total to $216.9 million since opening on May 22. The film is currently in second spot at the US box office.

Both Indy IV and Sex And The City dominated the global box office, enjoying lucrative ticket sales in just about every territory they played in.

UK cinemagoers are expected to help send Sarah Jessica Parker and company to the top spot as well, although Indiana Jones remained a hot ticket.

Another film to surpass box office expectations in American movie theatres this weekend was the Rogue Pictures horror film The Strangers, which entered the chart at No. 3 with $20.7 million.

Written and directed by Bryan Bertino, the film follows the fortunes of a young couple staying in an isolated vacation home as they’re terrorized by three unknown assailants. It stars Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman.

read our review of Sex And The City

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