The Pursuit of Happyness has topped the US box office - and helped Sony beat its annual sales record.

The Will Smith movie kept Eragon off the top spot, taking $27m over the weekend period.

Its success took Sony Pictures Entertainment's US ticket sales for the year to $1.58 billion, beating the company's industry record of $1.57 billion in 2002.

Second placed Eragon, a fantasy movie featuring a dragon, took $23.45m, while family favourite Charlotte's Web entered at three with $12m.

Top ten in full:

1. The Pursuit of Happyness - $27m
2. Eragon - $23.45m
3. Charlotte's Web - $12m
4. Happy Feet - $8.5m
5. The Holiday - $8.2m
6. Apocalypto - $7.7m
7. Blood Diamond - $6.3m
8. Casino Royale - $5.7m
9. The Nativity Story - $4.7m
10. Unaccompanied Minors - $3.7m