Political thriller “Vantage Point” may have been ripped apart by film critics but moviegoers, and lots of them at that, were wiling to give it a chance, thus making the No. 1 spot on the North American box office possible.

Sony thriller “Vantage Point,” directed by Pete Travis from a script by Barry Levy and starring Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt, topped the North American box office this weekend, with an estimated $24 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The film received a measly 35 percent score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes whose consensus, “an interesting premise that is completely undermined by fractured storytelling and wooden performances” would otherwise suggest box office doom.

It nevertheless toppled last week’s top earner, Twentieth Century Fox sci-fi film “Jumper,” off the top spot, and was also ahead of other major releases.

“Jumper,” another critically reviled film, staring Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson, earned another $12.7 million, bringing its two-week total close to $56 million.

Paramount Pictures’ family fantasy “The Spiderwick Chronicles” placed third with an additional $12.6 million in ticket sales, while Disney’s “Step Up 2 the Streets,” dance sequel to the 2006 movie “Step Up,” earned another $9.8 million at No. 4.

Warner Bros.’ romantic comedy “Fool’s Gold,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, placed fifth with ticket sales worth $6.3 million, while the Valentine’s Day release “Definitely, Maybe,” a Universal Pictures project, added $5.2 million to its domestic intake.

Comedic release “Be Kind Rewind,” from New Line Cinema, placed a modest seventh with $4.1 million.

The Academy Awards weekend attracted moviegoers to nominated films “Juno,” which took in $4.1 million at No. 8, and “There Will Be Blood,” with $2.6 million at No. 10.

Martin Lawrence’s latest comedy, “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,” remained among the top ten, with $4 million at No. 9.