Washington  - The animated Monsters vs Aliens took the US weekend box office prize, bringing in an estimated 58.2 million dollars with its debut and grabbing first place as top weekend earner since the year began.

Pulling up a distant second was the horror thriller, The Haunting in Connecticut, which debuted with 23 million dollars.

The science-fiction spectacle Knowing with Nicolas Cage in the lead role dropped to third place with 14.7 million dollars.

I Love You, Man, which debuted in second place last weekend, dropped to fourth place with 12.6 million dollars, while Julia Roberts and Clive Owen had to settle for fifth place in Duplicity with 7.5 million dollars.

Filling out the top ten were Race to Witch Mountain, with 5.6 million dollars; 12 Rounds debuted with 5.3 million dollars; Watchmen, with 2.8 million dollars; Taken, with 2.7 million dollars; and The Last House on the Left, with 2.6 million dollars. (dpa)