Much-hyped movie Snakes On A Plane slithered to the top of the US box office this weekend - but with a more modest $15.25 million opening weekend than expected.

The film had received huge buzz on the Internet before it's opening, with some people predicting box office receipts of up to the $30 million mark for its opening weekend.

Snakes narrowly beat Will Ferrell's comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby, which took in $14.1 million knocking it into second place after two weeks at the top.

Oliver Stone's World Trade Center grabbed the number three spot with $10.8 million.

Teen comedy Accepted, about slackers who start their own university, debuted at number four with $10.1 million.

The weekend's other new release, Material Girls, starring Hilary and Haylie Duff as cosmetic company heiresses, opened at number nine with $4.6 million.