American Sniper Topples Taken 3 From Top UK Box Office

by Helen Earnshaw | 28 January 2015

American Sniper has toppled Taken 3 at the top of the UK box office on its second week of release.

American Sniper

American Sniper - which sees Bradley Cooper take on the real life role of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle - opened at number two on its opening week, but has now risen one place to top the UK box office - it is a movie that has also topped the box office in the U.S.

Taken 3 slipped just a single place this week as it dropped from one to two. Despite the poor reviews from the critics, fans of the franchise have flocked to see Liam Neeson back as Bryan Mills and the film continues to perform well. So far, the movie has grossed in excess of $208 million at the global box office.

There was no move for The Theory of Everything at number three as it continues to win over audiences. It has been another good weekend from Eddie Redmayne, as he won the Best Actor Screen Actors Guild Award and is now the favourite to scoop the Oscar next month.

Into The Woods was another movie that was a none-mover at four, while Ex Machina was the first new entry inside the top ten at five. Ex Machina marked the feature film directorial debut from Alex Garland, who is best known for penning screenplays for 28 Days Later and Sunshine.

Paddington fell out of the top five for the first time this week, as it dropped from five to six. Mortdecai sees Johnny Depp return to the big screen, but it is a movie that has not been met well by the critics. The poor reviews have seen the movie struggle at the U.S. and now the UK box office and the film only manages to open at number seven.

The Gambler is the third and final new entry inside the top ten this week, as the Mark Wahlberg movie opened at number eight. The Birdman - which is another movie that enjoyed SAG Award success over the weekend - was down just one place from eight to nine. Birdman is another favourite for Oscar success and could well walk away with the Best Picture prize.

Whiplash rounded off the top ten at ten as it fell three places from last week's number seven.