John Carter Takes Charge Of U.k. Box Office

Disney's sci-fi epic John Carter has battled its way to the top of the U.K. box office chart in its opening weekend (09-11Mar12).
The movie, starring Taylor Kitsch as a U.S. Civil War captain transported to Mars, debuted with takings of $3.36 million (£2.1 million), narrowly beating Dame Judi Dench's The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel into second place with $3.2 million (£2 million).
John Carter has also been a big success in Russia and other parts of Europe, while the blockbuster failed to match expectations in America. It recorded the biggest opening day in Russian box office history last week (ends09Mar12).
Daniel Radcliffe's record-breaking horror movie The Woman in Black, romantic comedy This Means War and action thriller Safe House round out the U.K. box office's new top five.