MADAGASCAR - MADAGASCAR SEQUEL ROARS WAY TO UK BOX OFFICE TOP SPOT

MADAGASCAR SEQUEL ROARS WAY TO UK BOX OFFICE TOP SPOT

Animated sequel Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa has topped the UK box office charts after its opening weekend on release.

The Dreamworks film took an estimated £6.3 million to unseat last week's number one film Four Christmases.

Voice actors Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer, Chris Rock and Jada-Pinkett Smith return as the animals from the New York zoo, along with the show-stealing lemurs and penguins from the first film, find themselves marooned in the titular African nation.

The comedy bettered the box office performance of its predecessor in the US, achieving the seventh best opening of all time for an animated feature.

Action film Transporter 3, starring Jason Statham, debuted at number three while Changeling, Clint Eastwood's Oscar-tipped period drama fell one place to four.

The 22nd James Bond film Quantum of Solace rounded off the top five while the third highest new entry was Lakeview Terrace in seventh, starring Samuel L Jackson as an LAPD officer who terrorises his new next-door neighbours.

British horror film The Children - starring Eva Birthistle and Freddie Boath - debuted at number ten.

The top ten films in the UK are: (last week's position)

1 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - £6.3 million (-)
2 Four Christmases - £1.4 million (1)
3 Transporter 3 - £958,615 (-)
4 Changeling - £721,221 (3)
5 Quantum of Solace - £720,390 (2)
6 Body of Lies - £260,503 (4)
7 Lakeview Terrace - £224,493 (-)
8 My Best Friend's Girl - £125,690 (5)
9 High School Musical 3: Senior Year - £110,110 (6)
10 The Children - £98,205 (-)