CATHERINE HARDWICKE - TWILIGHT BITES ITS WAY TO UK BOX OFFICE TOP SPOT

TWILIGHT BITES ITS WAY TO UK BOX OFFICE TOP SPOT

Vampire romance Twilight has debuted at number one in the UK box office charts.

The Summit Entertainment film, based on Stephenie Meyer's novel, took £2.5 million in its opening weekend on release to take the Christmas number one spot.

Alex Hamilton, director of E1 Films - the UK branch of Twilight's distributor Entertainment One Group - said the film's opening performance was a "great start".

"We're looking forward to a lucrative holiday season and beyond," he added.

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, Twilight took $70.6 million (£47.4 million) when it opened in the US, a record haul for a female director.

However, Hardwicke is to be replaced by The Golden Compass helmer Chris Weitz for the sequel New Moon, after the former left the project, reportedly over script concerns.

The Day the Earth Stood Still, last week's number one film at the UK box office, fell to fourth spot, while animated film The Tale of Despereaux debuted at five.

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

1 Twilight - £2.5 million (-)
2 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - £1.9 million (2)
3 Four Christmases - £1.1 million (3)
4 The Day the Earth Stood Still - £1 million (1)
5 The Tale of Despereaux - £560,870 (-)
6 Inkheart - £549,990 (4)
7 A Couple Made By God - £257,836 (-)
8 Changeling - £220,276 (7)
9 Quantum of Solace - £204,142 (8)
10 Transporter 3 - £174,470 (6)