From correspondents in New York, United States, 04:01 PM IST

The Blind Side, a drama about American football starring Sandra Bullock, stepped out of the Twilight shadow in its third week in cinemas to rank first in North American box-office rankings, according to preliminary studio estimates.

A heartwarming true story, the movie portrays a hulking, homeless youth taken in by an affluent family, under whose guidance he begins to meet his human and athletic potential.

The Blind Side sold $20.4 million dollars in tickets from Friday-Sunday, edging the three-day total of $15.7 million for mammoth hit The Twilight Saga: New Moon, a sequel to the teen- oriented vampire film.

Both films were starting their third week in release.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)