Dance movie Stomp The Yard stunned US box office watchers at the weekend by claiming the number one spot with an impressive $22 million opening-weekend take.

The film, starring Columbus Short as a dancer at the centre of a step competition between rival college fraternities, ended Night At The Museum's three-week reign, and became the first new number one movie of 2007.

Ben Stiller's family comedy, Night At The Museum, enjoyed a fourth successful week, taking in $17.1 million over the weekend. The film has now raced past the $185 million in America, and holds the new number two spot.

Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake's new film Alpha Dog failed to perform, taking in just $6.1 million in its opening weekend, to claim seventh place on the new chart.

The only new entry in the top 10 was thriller Primeval, which debuted in eighth place with $6 million.