The surreal tale about a killer video took $15m (£9.7m) for the three days from 18 October, according to studio estimates.

Starring rising Australian star Naomi Watts, who got her big break in David Lynch's surreal Mulholland Drive, The Ring has exceeded expectations.

Top five

1. The Ring 2. Sweet Home Alabama 3. Red Dragon 4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 5. Brown Sugar/Abandon

Despite mixed reviews, it took enough to push the latest Hannibal Lecter thriller down to number three with $8.8m (£5.7m).

The second film version of Thomas Harris's novel of the same name, Red Dragon has not done as well as Hannibal.

Frothy romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama, stayed at number two with $9.6m (£6.2m), with Reese Witherspoon continuing to prove popular.

The astounding success of low budget My Big Fat Greek Wedding continues as it rose one place to number four with $7.2m (£4.65m).

Brown Sugar, an urban romance starting at the birth of hip hop and Katie Holmes-vehicle Abandon took joint number five spot with $5.3m (£3.42m).

Liverpool-set crime caper Formula 51, starring Samuel L Jackson and released in the UK as the 51st State, was the third most lucrative new release of the weekend taking the number twelve spot with $2.9m (£1.87m).

Audience goosebumps

The Ring, made by DreamWorks at a cost of $43m (£27.8m), also stars New Zealand actor Martin Henderson.

DreamWorks distribution president Jim Tharp said: "It seemed people were in the mood for a fun and scary movie.

"The audience had goosebumps on goosebumps, but they had fun with it."

Sony is also claiming a major success with Vin Diesel high-octane thriller XXX; the movie opening at the top of nine other national box offices after success in the US.