Movies

'Pirates 4' breaks UK box office record

Published Tuesday, May 24 2011, 09:09 BST | By Simon Reynolds | 5 comments

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has topped the UK box office on its first weekend on release.

The 3D adventure sequel, starring Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz, debuts with an impressive £11.6 million to end Thor and Fast & Furious 5's recent domination of the top ten.

Boosted by a Wednesday release, On Stranger Tides posted the biggest box office opening of 2011 and is Disney's fourth-largest opening ever in the UK. Its £11 million gross is also more than the rest of the top ten combined.

Worldwide, the Pirates sequel has pulled in $256 million (£159 million), passing the record set by Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in 2009.

Elsewhere, the chart sees new releases Blitz and Win Win enter at numbers nine and ten respectively.

The UK box office top ten in full:

1. (-) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - £11,634,860
2. (2) Fast & Furious - £587,617
3. (1) Thor - £528,701
4. (4) Insidious - £451,139
5. (3) Attack the Block - £355,232
6. (5) Hanna - £286,997
7. (7) Rio - £284,085
8. (6) Water for Elephants - £266,345
9. (-) Blitz - £266,148
10. (-) Win Win - £155,463

Watch the trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides below: