Avatar Conquers U.k. Cinema Chart

JAMES CAMERON’s AVATAR has shot to top of the U.K. box office, with the computer generated epic raking in $13.6 million (?8.5 million) in its opening weekend (19-20Dec09).

The groundbreaking sci-fi movie has scored the third biggest opening in Britain and Ireland of 2009 after The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The weekend’s (19-20Dec09) second spot was claimed by St Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold with $2.5 million (?1.6 million), followed by Jim Carrey’s animated tale A Christmas Carol in third place with ?1.6 million (?1 million).

Nativity! and Planet 51 round out the top five, pulling in revenues of $924,000 (?578,000) and $721,000 (?451,000) respectively.