'Chihuahua' has big bite, tops box office for second week

The pampered pooch forced to fend for herself on Mexico's mean streets in "Beverley Hills Chihuahua" is alpha dog at the North American box office for the second weekend in a row, industry figures showed Sunday.

Walt Disney's "Chihuahua," a canine comedy featuring the voices of Drew Barrymore and Andy Garcia, took top spot with 17.5 million dollars (13.1 million euros), according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Taut disease-thriller "Quarantine," about a television crew trapped in a small apartment building with residents infected with a new strain of rabies, debuted in second place with 14.2 million dollars.

New spy flick "Body of Lies," starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe in a explosive examination of US foreign policy, opened in third spot with 13.1 million dollars.

In fourth place, with 11.0 million dollars, was "Eagle Eye," a futuristic thriller starring young Hollywood phenomenon Shia LaBeouf about a villain who infilitrates phones, televisions and computers.

Romantic comedy "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist," featuring "Juno" and "Superbad" star Michael Cera, took fifth place, with 6.5 million dollars in sales.

"The Express," an inspirational sports drama set in the the civil rights era starring Dennis Quaid as a tough football coach, debuted in sixth place, taking 4.7 million dollars.

In seventh place, with 7.4 million dollars, was romantic drama "Nights in Rodanthe" starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere. It tells the story of unhappy marriage and infidelity, set against the coastal backdrop of North Carolina's Outer Banks.

"Appaloosa," a Western drama with strong leads in "Pollock" star Ed Harris and "Lord of Rings" actor Viggo Mortensen, fell in its second week to eighth place, taking in 3.34 million dollars.

Eighteenth century costume drama "The Duchess," featuring British actress Keira Knightley, a veteran of earlier period pictures "Pride and Prejudice" and "Atonement," held the ninth spot with 3.32 million dollars.

"City of Ember," a visual treat set in a futurist underworld, glowing with performances from Bill Murray and Tim Robbins, debuted in 10th place, taking in 3.2 million dollars.