THE teen horror movie "Prom Night" was the belle of the ball at the weekend box office in North America, earning an estimated US$22 million during its first three days, distributor Sony Pictures said Sunday.

The studio had hoped the defanged remake of a 1980 thriller starring Jamie Lee Curtis would open in the mid- to high-teen millions. It cost about US$20 million to make.

The movie played strongly with its target audience of teenagers and was released to coincide with the upcoming prom season -- when presumably teens won't have to run from homicidal teachers who have escaped from mental asylums.

Brittany Snow stars as an orphaned high school student pursued by an obsessed teacher (Johnathon Schaech).

Also new was the violent cop thriller "Street Kings," starring Keanu Reeves, at No. 2 with a solid US$12 million, and the dark family comedy "Smart People" at No. 7 with a modest US$4.2 million.

Rounding out the top five, Sony's gambling drama "21" fell to No. 3 with US$11 million, after two weeks at No. 1.

The Jodie Foster family adventure "Nim's Island" dropped two spots to No. 4 with US$9 million, taking its 10-day haul to $25.3 million.

The George Clooney football drama "Leatherheads" also was down two, to No. 5, with US$6.2 million.

(SD-Agencies)