No Good Deed, the twisting-turning thriller starring British actor Idris Elba, has topped the US box office with $24.5 million - a massive return considering its $13.2 million budget. The film ended Guardians of the Galaxy's four-week reign as No.1.

No Good Deed

Idris plays Colin Evans, a prison escapee who shoots a guard and driver in the process and begins to terrorize a woman who is along with her two children. 

By all accounts, No Good Deed wasn't a hit with the critics though most took it for what it is - a decent way to spend a couple of hours at the cinema.

More: James Gandolfini's 'The Drop' is a thrilling, fitting swansong

"It's a little dumb (OK, maybe more than a little), but "No Good Deed" is an otherwise brisk, efficient thriller that won't punish audiences who drop in," said Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times.

Elsewhere at the box-office, Dolphin Tale 2 took number two, while Guardians slipped to third. The Marvel movie has taken around $600 million worldwide and is the biggest film of the year in North America (so far).

More: Meet the young stars of 'The Maze Runner'

James Gandolfini's final movie, The Drop, landed in sixth spot after opening in a limited number of cinemas. 

Box office analyst Paul Degaradebian said No Good Deed is the first post-summer release to make a real impression, though it will almost certainly surrender the top spot over the coming weekend with young-adult adaptation The Maze Runner and Liam Neeson's A Walk Amongst The Tombstones representing two of the bigger offerings. The Dan Stevens' starrer The Guest also takes its bow.

Watch the 'No Good Deed' trailer: