New York - Keanu Reeves-starrer, "The Day the Earth Stood Still", topped the US box office with a weekend opening of 31 million dollars.

Despite average reviews, the remake of the 1951 science fiction movie replaced Four Christmases as the box office leader, according to estimates on Sunday.

“The Day the Earth Stood Still” debuted in theaters across the country on Friday and revived the 1951 story about aliens and humanity, awareness and extinction, although the frame is much broader this time.

In the new version of the movie, Keanu Reeves is the one to fill the shoes of Klaatu, an extraterrestrial creature that serves both as a judge of human race and as an unpaid executioner whose only faith is duty, in an attempt to save the planet and make people realize that their way of treating their home is imperiling their wellbeing and the environment’s safety as well.

However, Keanu Reeves acts rather stiffly and often gives the impression of awkwardness. Intentionally or not, he manages to portray a somber alien that has no idea about human nature and society order, in spite of the fact that he claims extraterrestrial spies have been living among people for ages. This is only one of the clumsy flaws of the film that make us wonder whether producers forgot these details on their way to creating outstanding special effects.

"Four Christmases", which stars Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, came in second with 13.3 million dollars. In the three weeks since its release, the movie for the holidays has brought in 88 million dollars.

Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon make an odd-looking couple that inspires only one thing: mismatch. Not only do they look like Snow White and the seven dwarfs, piled one on top of the other, but they also display incompatible attitudes. The two actors may be able to deliver outstanding performances separately, but they are far from being a match made in heaven. While Vince Vaughn strolls around with a Mr. Hot smile on his face, Reese Witherspoon seems distant and cold, as if she wanted to get it over with quickly.

They fill the shoes of Brad and Kate, two people who form a couple and live together, but can’t stand the thought of marriage. They haven’t met the other’s folks yet and aren’t eager to make the big step either. Every Christmas they make up excuses in order to avoid winter tradition and travel to sunnier remote lands, far away from family drama, crazy siblings, wedding talks and table fights. However, they get in trouble when their flight to Fiji is cancelled and their relatives see them on TV offering an interview with regard to their ruined holiday. As their cover story has been destroyed, the two have no other choice but to spend Christmas with their parents, who are divorced.

In its fourth week, teen vampire romance Twilight faded to third place with just over 8 million dollars.  Also in the top five at the US box office this weekend were Disney's Bolt with 7.5 million dollars and Baz Luhrmann's Australia with 4.3 million dollars.