I have to admit that I was surprised when I looked at this weekend’s box office returns and saw which movie stood at the top. I fully expected Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls to retain its hold as the No. 1 movie in America for the second straight week, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, it was dethroned by Sex and the City, a feature film based on the highly popular HBO series that last aired in February of 2004.

Apparently, women (come on, it’s a chick flick, right?) have missed the adventures of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha to the extent that they spent $55.7 million to see the gang back in action, making this film the clear-cut box office champ despite mostly negative reviews from critics.

Indiana Jones slipped to second place with $46 million in tickets sold, while The Strangers, a new horror film starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, debuted in third with a strong $20.7 million showing.

Iron Man showed little sign of letting up, as it did another $14 million in business, putting it just ahead of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, which was fifth with $13 million worth of tickets sold.

Here’s the complete Top 10 for the weekend ending 6/1/08:

  1. Sex and the City, $55.7 million
  2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, $46 million
  3. The Strangers, $20.7 million
  4. Iron Man, $14 million
  5. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, $13 million
  6. What Happens in Vegas…, $6.85 million
  7. Baby Mama, $2.2 million
  8. Speed Racer, $2.14 million
  9. Made of Honor, $2 million
  10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall, $1.04 million