In above file photo actors Loan Gruffudd (L), Jessica Alba (2nd L), Michael Chiklis, and Chris Evans (R) of the film "The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" appear on NBC's 'Today' show in New York, June 15, 2007. The film debuted at number one at the box office. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    LOS ANGELES, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Another Hollywood sequel reigned over the box office in North American theaters this weekend, as 20th Century Fox's "Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer" raked in about 57.4 million dollars in ticket sales over the three-day period, preliminary estimates showed Sunday.

    The second "Fantastic Four" film adapted from Marvel's best-selling comic series slightly surpassed the 56.1 million-dollar opening of its predecessor two years ago, according to Los Angeles-based box office tracker Media By Numbers.

    The new film, in which the quartet of astronauts-turned-superheroes reunites to rescue the world by taking down the Silver Surfer, features a special-effects-laden script and stars the chrome-plated surfer who looks like an Oscar statue with super skills.

    Warner Bros' "Ocean's Thirteen," the third version of the rat-pack revival, was in second place this weekend with 19.1 million dollars in sales in its second week, while Universal's comedy "Knocked Up" was in third place, with 14.5 million dollars in weekend sales in its third weekend.

    After four weeks in release, Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" slipped to the forth with 12 million dollars in sales this weekend, and Sony's animated film "Surf's Up" about surfing penguins was at No. 5 with 9.3 million dollars.

    The 12 top-selling films over the weekend took in a total of 138.8 million dollars this weekend, down 4 percent from the same period last year as box office slipped for the third straight weekend in North America.

    It put Hollywood's earlier expectation of a record summer season in doubt and studios executives now pin their hopes on potential blockbusters like "Transformers" and a new Harry Potter sequel in coming weeks.