Vin Diesel's Fast Five is biggest 2011 US opener to date

Fast Five sees Paul Walker and Vin Diesel reprise their roles as Brian O'Conner and Dom Toretto

Vin Diesel film Fast Five has taken $86.2m (£51.9m) in its first three days, the biggest North American box office opener of the year so far.

The fifth movie in the street racing franchise pulled in bigger takings than early estimates, which had stood at $83.6m (£50.3m).

It easily beat the previous best opening set two weeks ago by animation Rio, which took $39.2m (£23.6m).

The film, featuring the voice of Anne Hathaway was at two this week.

It has now taken $103.6m (£65.2m) in its thee weeks since release.

The latest comedy offering from Tyler Perry, the critically-panned Madea's Big Happy Family, fell one place to three, taking $9.9m (£6m) million in its second weekend.

Depression-era romance Water for Elephants, starring Robert Pattinson and Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon, also dropped one spot to four.

Other new releases failed to perform at the box office.

Disney's coming-of-age comedy drama Prom, starring a largely unknown group of actors as teenagers preparing for their high school prom, debuted at five.

Animated sequel Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil featuring the voices of Haydn Panettiere and Glenn Close opened at six with $4.1m.

Overall revenues stood at $155m (£93.5m), up 52% from the same weekend last year, when A Nightmare on Elm Street topped the chart, according to box office analyst Hollywood.com.