Samuel L. Jackson rose victoriously to the top of the North American box office this weekend with his psychological thriller “Lakeview Terrace,” which grossed $15.6 million during its first three days of release.

Ticket sales may be modest compared to other openings this year but Screen Gems, a low-budget division of Sony Corp, said its expectations had been met. The film, directed by Neil LaBute, had a $20 million budget.

The Academy Award nominated Jackson stars as a prejudiced police officer, a widower raising his two children in a quiet suburb, who does not approve of the couple who has just moved next door.

The Mattsons, portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington, soon discover that the dream house they have found for themselves is actually a nightmare, given their neighbor’s issues.

While film reviews may have been mixed for the thriller, it has nevertheless scored this year’s second No. 1 for Jackson, after sci-fi action movie “Jumper,” co-starring Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson, opened at the top spot in February with $27 million and finished with $80 million.

Other releases this weekend fared even worse.

Lionsgate’s romantic comedy “My Best Friend’s Girl” opened at No. 3 with a modest $8.3 million. Kate Hudson stars as a foul-mouthed young woman who falls for Dane Cook’s loathsome character, as opposed to Jason Bigg’s soft, sappy persona.

Film critics showed the raunchy comedy little mercy, with Rotten Tomatoes offering a measly 6% score – pretty rotten.

MGM cartoon “Igor” opened at No. 4, with $8 million. Igor is a garish looking hunchback who lives in the Land of Malaria and dreams of scientific glory. He is voiced by John Cusack and the voice cast includes Jay Leno (as the evil King Malbert), Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Eddie Izzard and Molly Shannon.

Paramount/DreamWorks’ comedy “Ghost Town,” directed by David Koepp and starring Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear, made its debut at No. 8, earning $5.2 million. The cast includes Téa Leoni and Billy Campbell.

The critically acclaimed “Burn After Reading,” from the Coen brothers, slipped from last week’s No. 1 spot to No. 2, earning another $11.3 million in ticket sales. The Focus Features film features a stellar cast: frequent collaborators George Clooney and Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand. It has earned $36.4 million in 10 days and the studio expects it to reach $50 million.

Overture Film production “Righteous Kill,” starring screen legends Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, placed fifth, with $7.7 million, followed by “Tyler Perry’s the Family That Preys,” starring Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard, with $7.5 million.

Picturehouse’s “The Women,” starring Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes and Jada Pinkett Smith in a remake of George Cukor’s 1939 drama of the same name, settled for No. 7, with $5.3 million and “The Dark Knight,” this summer’s supreme blockbuster, earned another $3 million at No. 9.

Rounding up the top ten is “The House Bunny,” with $2.8 million.