What We Do in the Shadows tops US iTunes charts

Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's vampire flick has earned more than $600,000 through digital downloads this week.

Kiwi vampire flick What We Do in the Shadows has earned more than $600,000 through digital downloads during its first week of release in America.

Variety reports the mockumentary, directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, has earned US$463,000 ($625,000) in its first week and has become the number one comedy on iTunes.

It is the sixth most popular film overall, alongside major blockbusters like 50 Shades of Grey and American Sniper.

The film was released on demand in America on May 5, following a limited cinematic release, which saw it earn US$3.3 million ($4.5 million) domestically.

"The film is compulsively re-watchable, and we're seeing a lot of folks want to own it," says Paul Davidson, senior vice president of film and television at the Orchard, which is overseeing the film's home entertainment release.

Taika Waititi in his movie What We Do in the Shadows

In New Zealand, the film earned more than $2 million at the local box office, becoming one of the highest grossing NZ films of all time.

- nzherald.co.nz