TwentiethCentury Fox's X2: X-Men United stayed top in its second session with anestimated $41.4m weekend haul that puts the sci-fi sequel on a mighty $149mafter 10 days.

Thefilm is unlikely to extend its reign next week when Warner Bros opens TheMatrix Reloaded, but will now set it sights on putting as much groundbetween it and the $157.3m grossed by X-Men in 2000.

X2 averaged $11,045 from 3,748 theatres, the highest average inthe top 10.

Openingin second on $27.6m was Columbia/Revolution's comedy Daddy Day Care,which averaged $8,189 from 3,370 sites.

The critics sniffed at thefilm but this was a much-needed hit for star Eddie Murphy, whose annushorribilis last year was defined by the flops Showtime, TheAdventures Of Pluto Nash and I Spy.

Overallticket sales for the top 12 films was an estimated $103m, down 27% from lastweekend and down 11% from the same period a year ago, when Spider-Mantook $71.4m for $223m in its second weekend.

InDaddy Day Care, Murphy plays a father who loses his job and opens achild day care centre with his friends. Jeff Garlin and Steve Zahn co-star andthe comedy was directed by Steve Carr, who directed Murphy in Dr Dolittle 2.

Infact Dr Dolittle 2 was Murphy's last box office hit, opening in 2001 on$25m and going on to make $112.9m.

Lastweek's other opener, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, slipped one place tothird on $7.8m for $27.2m, while Columbia's serial killer thriller Identityfell one to fourth, adding $6.3m for a decent $39.2m in its third weekend.

BuenaVista's acclaimed children's film Holes slid one to sixth, adding $4.6mfor a sturdy $51.4m in its fourth weekend.

WarnerBros' country music spoof A Mighty Wind clicked its heels with aspirited rise from 14th to seventh, adding $2.9m for $9.3m in itsfourth weekend.

Foxsearchlight's popular Bend It Like Beckham continued its strong run-outas it climbed one to ninth on $1.7m for a terrific $13.1m in its ninth week.

Confidence is also enjoying animpressive run, and despite slipping three places to tenth it added $1.5m forLions Gate and has taken $11m in three weeks.

Nextweek's releases include Warner Bros' anticipated sequel The Matrix Reloaded,starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne; and DownWith Love, a reworking of the old Rock Hudson-Doris Day formula, starringEwan McGregor and Renee Zellweger.

Down With Love opened in one New York theatre this weekend,grossing a powerful $44,098.

Estimated Top Ten US May 9-11, 2003

Film (Distributor)/International distribution/Estimated weekend gross/Estimatedtotal to date

1(1) X2: X-Men United (Fox) Fox International $41.4m $149m
2 (-) Daddy Day Care (Columbia/Revolution) CTFDI $27.6m --
3 (2) The Lizzie McGuire Movie (Buena Vista) BVI $7.8m $27.2m
4 (3) Identity (Columbia) CTFDI $6.3m $39.2m
5 (4) AngerManagement (Columbia/Revolution) CTFDI $5.5m $122.9m
6 (5) Holes (BuenaVista) BVI $4.6m $51.4m
7 (14) A Mighty Wind (Warner Bros) Warner Bros $2.9m $9.3m
8 (6) Malibu's MostWanted (Warner Bros) Warner Bros $2.1m $31.8m
9 (10) Bend It Like Beckham (Fox Searchlight) Fox International $1.7m$13.1m
10 (7) Confidence(Lions Gate) Lions Gate International $1.5m $11m