BATMAN BEGINS - BATMAN BEGINS TOPS UK BOX OFFICE

Prequel BATMAN BEGINS has jumped straight to the top of the UK box office charts on its first week of release.

The superhero blockbuster, which was directed by British director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN and stars Brits CHRISTIAN BALE, SIR MICHAEL CAINE, LIAM NEESON, GARY OLDMAN and TOM WILKINSON, took a staggering GBP3.5 million ($6.3 million).

Batman Begin's huge take toppled last week's number one, the BRAD PITT and ANGELINA JOLIE-starring romantic comedy MR AND MRS SMITH, down to number two.

According to British industry magazine SCREEN INTERNATIONAL, the top ten UK films are:

1. BATMAN BEGINS

2. MR AND MRS SMITH

3. STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH

4. SIN CITY

5. THE PACIFIER.