andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

True-life crime saga “American Gangster” swatted away the competition to take top spot at the weekend North American box office.

With an opening that set a number of records, Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe beat out Jerry Seinfeld’s heavily marketed animated “Bee Movie”.

Bootlegged versions of the film were leaked on the web before its release and still “American Gangster” sold $46.3 million worth of tickets during its first weekend, while “Bee Movie” opened at No. 2 with $39.1 million. Both opening surpassed the expectations of the films.

“American Gangster” is also the highest-grossing opener for both Washington and Crowe, beating Inside Man ($29m) and Gladiator ($35m).

The gritty film cost $100 million to make and after seven years and three directors, producer Brian Grazer finally completed his dream project with Ridley Scott taking the directing reigns following Antoine Fuqua and Terry George.

Bee Movie, meanwhile, is Seinfeld’s first major project since he ended his infamous sitcom in 1998.

The two new entries helped the box office end a six-week losing streak. Total sales were up about 11 percent over the year-ago weekend to $143 million.

Last weekend’s number one, the horror movie Saw IV, drop to number three.

The cast of Ridley Scott’s new film is getting a little help from the world of hip hop.

Variety reports that rappers Common, TI, and RZA will star alongside Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in the director’s crime drama “American Gangster.”

The film centres around Washington, who plays a Harlem crime leader who smuggled heroin into the U.S. via the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam.

Crowe plays the role of lead investigator into the incident.

The film’s script was penned by Steven Zaillian, know for his writing credits on movies like “Gangs of New York” and “Schindler’s List.”

The film, which has no set release date yet, will be co-produced by Scott and Brian Grazer.