Chinese martial-arts film Hero, starring Jet Li, sliced up the competition at North America box office, taking in USD18 million in the passing weekend, according to final studio figures Monday.

This was 200,000 dollars more than the studio estimates released Sunday. The film, which was nominated for 2002 best foreign language Academy award, was released by Miramax two years later than expected.

Produced by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou, the film tells an assassination plot against the first Chinese emperor of Qin Dynasty. Co-starring with Jet Li are famous Chinese film stars Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi and Tony Leung Chui-Wai.

It is in abundance of breathtaking and seemingly impossible images captured by cinematographer Christopher Doyle.

Another new release, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, snaked into second place with a take of USD12.9 million, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Without a Paddle rowed into third with USD8.6 million, followed by Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, with USD8.1 million, and last week's leader Exorcist: The Beginning, with USD7.1 million.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2004)