Hulk grabs top spot despite mixed reviews
Director Ang Lee's much-derided blockbuster Hulk emerged as the favourite film at UK and Irish box offices this weekend.
The big-screen adaptation of the Marvel comic has suffered mixed reviews for its blend of foot-stomping action and earnest introspection, but audiences seem to have responded well to Lee's portrait of hot-tempered scientist Bruce Banner - the film has taken £3.5m since opening last Friday.
A similar reaction has greeted the film in the US. There, again despite many less than enthusiastic reviews, the film also topped box offices and has so far pulled in over $120m (£75m).
Last week's British number one Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, meanwhile, slipped to third with takings of £1.1m. Jim Carrey vehicle Bruce Almighty filled the spot between the two films, with three-day receipts of £1.2m.
Elsewhere, the Eddie Murphy comedy Daddy Day Care and cartoon Piglet's Big Movie filled out the top five, with Joel Schumacher's biographical thriller Veronica Guerin sixth despite as yet only being on release in Ireland.
Of the week's new releases besides Hulk, only the black comedy Buffalo Soldiers performed respectably, taking £113,664 from 34 screens. The much-delayed 19th century epic Four Feathers, in comparison, made just £61,800 from showing on 143 screens.