CLINT EASTWOOD - CLINT EASTWOOD DRAMA GRAN TORINO TOPS US BOX OFFICE

CLINT EASTWOOD DRAMA GRAN TORINO TOPS US BOX OFFICE

Gran Torino, the new vengeance drama starring Clint Eastwood, has debuted at the top of the US box office charts.

The Warner Bros release, directed by and starring Eastwood, sees the Dirty Harry actor as Walter Kowalski, a Korean war veteran who becomes involved in a battle of wills with a gang of street thugs.

With $29.3 million (£19.7 million), Gran Torino roared to the number one spot in the US in its opening weekend, breaking Eastwood's record for an opening weekend on full nationwide release.

Wedding comedy Bride Wars, starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway, opened at number two with $21.5 million (£14.4 million), narrowly beating new horror The Unborn into third.

Last week's number one, Marley & Me, fell to fourth in the US charts.

The top ten films at the US box office are: (last week's position)

1 Gran Torino (14)
2 Bride Wars (-)
3 The Unborn (-)
4 Marley & Me (1)
5 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (3)
6 Bedtime Stories (2)
7 Valkyrie (4)
8 Yes Man (5)
9 Not Easily Broken ()
10 Seven Pounds (6)