Animal comedy Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is perched atop the U.K. box office after netting $9.6 million (£6 million) in its opening weekend (19-21Oct12).

The latest Dreamworks animation, starring the voices of Ben Stiller and Chris Rock, beat out competition from horror movie Paranormal Activity 4, which took $4 million (£2.5 million).

Last week's (begs15Oct12) chart-topper Taken 2 drops to third place, with $3.5 million (£2.2 million), and Hotel Transylvania ($1.6 million/£1 million) and Looper ($1.2 million/£781,211) round out the top five.