Chinese heroes proved mightier than giant snakes at the US box office, when Zhang Yimou's Hero debuted at the top - after a delay of two years since it first opened in China - with an estimated US$17.8mil.

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid slithered into second place, earning a respectable US$13.2mil in the process.

Staying afloat is Without a Paddle, which sinked slightly, from second to third spot, raking in US$8.7mil for a total of US$27.9mil.

Disney's The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement added another US$8.1mil into the Mouse House's coffers, to come in fourth above last week's champ Exorcist: The Beginning which seems to have demons still plaguing it. The horror movie managed a paltry US$6.7mil in its second week.

Below are the estimated figures for the period between Aug 27 and 29, 2004 (in US$ million):

1) Hero - 17.8 (New)
2) Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid - 13.2 (New)
3) Without a Paddle – 8.7 (27.9)
4) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement – 8.1 (75.1)
5) Exorcist: The Beginning - 6.7 (30.8)
6) Collateral - 6.3 (80.0)
7) Open Water - 5.0 (23.5)
8) Alien vs. Predator – 4.8 (72.1)
9) The Bourne Supremacy – 4.6 (157.7)
10) Suspect Zero – 3.4 (New)