'The Vow' tops North American box office takings Romantic drama "The Vow" topped the North American box office at the weekend, industry estimates showed Sunday, beating back strong competition from three other films in their first week of release. "The Vow," starring Rachel McAdams as a newlywed wife struggling with memory loss after an accident and Channing Tatum as her husband fighting to win back her heart, took $41.7 million, industry monitor Exhibitor Relations said. "Safe House," a CIA drama starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, was in second spot with $39.3 million, and 3D movie "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" was third, taking in $27.6 million. A 3D revamp of "Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace," took $23 million to claim fourth place in the standings, ahead of last week's number one movie, "Chronicle," which slid to fifth on takings of $12.3 million. Horror film "The Woman In Black" starring British actor Daniel Radcliffe, famous for his long run in the Harry Potter saga, was in sixth place according to the estimates, with sales of $10.3 million. Adventure thriller "The Grey" starring Liam Neeson fell from third to seventh, on earnings of $5.1 million, and "Big Miracle," a feel-good animal flick starring Drew Barrymore, took $3.9 million in eighth place. George Clooney family drama "The Descendants," was in ninth with $3.5 million, and "Underworld: Awakening," starring Kate Beckinsale as a woman vampire warrior, rounded out the top 10 with $2.5 million in ticket sales. Final figures are due to be released on Monday.