Director Mel Gibson (in forefront) is shown with cast members on the set of his new film 'Apocalypto' in this undated publicity photograph. The film, which opened in the United States last Friday, is about the Maya kingdom as it faces its decline. - Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters):

Apocalypto, Mel Gibson's first film since his anti-Semitic tirade last summer, led the North American box office with three-day ticket sales of US$14.2 million in its first weekend, distributor Walt Disney Co. said yesterday.

The modest sum, coming in at the lower end of industry expectations, paled in comparison to the US$84 million bow of the director's last movie, 2004's The Passion of the Christ. It is also the lowest sum for a number one movie since the weekend of September 8-10, when The Covenant was tops with US$8.9 million.

Apocalypto, which Gibson also produced and co-wrote, is set during the Mayan civilisation and revolves around one man's quest to save his family.

As a hyper-violent, R-rated movie with subtitles and a cast of unknown performers, Apocalypto hardly fits the profile of a typical Hollywood blockbuster.

Many reviews have praised Apocalypto as a gripping and visually spectacular work, though one with an exceedingly high quotient of blood and guts.

The Oscar-winning film-maker's image was badly tarnished by his anti-Semitic rant at police who had pulled him over for suspected drunk driving near his Malibu home in July. As major Hollywood names distanced themselves from him, the 50-year-old staunch Catholic quickly entered alcohol rehab, and has issued repeated apologies.

US Top 10

Following are the top 10 movies at the North American box office for the three-day weekend beginning December 8, led by Apocalypto, according to studio estimates compiled on Sunday by Reuters.

US$

1 Apocalypto