American Gangster whacks Beowulf at UK box office

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LONDON (Reuters) - Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe’s "American Gangster" has outmuscled historic epic "Beowulf" to take the top spot at the UK box office.

Director Ridley Scott’s real-life crime drama took 2.5 million pounds in Britain and Ireland over three days in its debut weekend, Screen International said on Tuesday.

The film stars Washington as a New York drug baron and Crowe as the detective trying to bring down his criminal empire. It has already topped the North American box office.

"Beowulf", director Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of the Old English poem, starring Ray Winstone as the eponymous hero, was forced into second place. It grossed 2.2 million pounds in its opening weekend.

In third place was "Ratatouille", the animated tale of a rat working as a restaurant chef in Paris that has grossed more than 23 million pounds in Britain.

Down two places at number four was "Stardust", the fantasy adventure starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro.

Last week’s number one "Good Luck Chuck", a romantic comedy with Jessica Alba and Dane Cook, dropped to fifth.

Another faller at number six was the historic drama "Elizabeth: The Golden Age", starring Cate Blanchett.

Vampire film "30 Days of Night" slipped two spots to number seven .....continued below

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Robert Redford’s political drama "Lions for Lambs" dropped three places to number nine.

Completing the top 10 was "Brick Lane", the big screen adaptation of Monica Ali’s bestselling novel.

(Reporting by Peter Griffiths)