Posted January 18, 200718 yr bbc: Happyness leads at box office Will Smith stars in the film with his son Jaden Will Smith's sentimental drama The Pursuit of Happyness has topped the UK box office in its opening weekend. Smith's portrayal of a salesman trying to prove himself in 1980s San Francisco took £2.5m. It knocked Ben Stiller's comedy caper Night at the Museum into second, while Miss Potter was unchanged at four. Other new entries were dark action comedy Smokin' Aces, starring Ben Affleck, at number three, and The Last King of Scotland at number five. Forest Whitaker, who plays Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the film, has won rave reviews for his performance. It also stars Shameless' actor James McAvoy and Gillian Anderson. Casino Royale, featuring Daniel Craig as James Bond, fell one place to number six. It has taken £53m since it opened nine weeks ago. Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, which made its debut at number three last week, fell to number seven. It is Gibson's first outing behind the camera since his 2004 religious epic, The Passion of the Christ. Employee of the Month, starring Jessica Simpson, tumbled six places from two to eight. Animated penguin film Happy Feet grossed £552,251 to take ninth place, while White Noise 2: The Light rounded out the top ten. Ireland and United Kingdom Boxoffice Returns for the weekend starting 12 January 2007 Rank Weekend Total Weeks Screens Weekend screen avg. Cumulative box office 1. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) £2,527,181 1 402 £6,286 £2,527,181 2. Night at the Museum (2006) £1,939,335 (-34%) 3 471 £4,117 £16,669,329 3. Smokin' Aces (2006) £1,023,862 1 338 £3,029 £1,023,862 4. Miss Potter (2006) £901,474 (-36%) 2 343 £2,628 £3,216,319 5. The Last King of Scotland (2006) £861,991 1 246 £3,504 £861,991 6. Casino Royale (2006) £839,164 (-20%) 9 301 £2,787 £53,091,639 7. Apocalypto (2006) £767,493 (-44%) 2 378 £2,030 £2,823,541 8. Employee of the Month (2006) £703,621 (-35%) 2 327 £2,151 £2,150,845 9. Happy Feet (2006) £553,132 (-44%) 6 473 £1,169 £17,092,656 10. White Noise 2: The Light (2007) £309,149 (-56%) 2 286 £1,080 £1,288,726 CANADA and USA Weekend Box-Office Summary 12 January 2007 Rank Title Weekend Gross http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bf/Stomptheyardposter.jpg 1. Stomp the Yard (2007) $25.9M $25.9M 2. Night at the Museum (2006) $21.8M $191M 3. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) $10.7M $138M 4. Dreamgirls (2006) $10.3M $67.1M 5. Freedom Writers (2007) $8.85M $20.2M 6. Children of Men (2006) $7.45M $22.4M 7. Alpha Dog (2006) $7.41M $7.41M 8. Primeval (2007) $6.79M $6.79M 9. Arthur et les Minimoys (2006) $5.7M $5.7M 10. Charlotte's Web (2006) $5.35M $73.7M Box office data supplied by and copyright Exhibitor Relations and/or HollywoodReporter.com ©2007
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