Madonna has helped promote the film

"No one has been able to take a United Kingdom film and get big crowds the first weekend,'' said Valerie Van Galder, executive vice president of marketing for Sony Screen Gems.

"It's like a stew. You get all of these ingredients and it becomes pretty potent.''

Snatch has already earned more than �12m since opening in the UK in September.

The critical reaction to the film in the US has been mixed, with many pointing out the film's uncanny resemblance to Ritchie's debut movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, also set in gangland London.

Ex beaten

Madonna has used her fame to help promote the movie - her appearance at the US premi�re of the move guaranteed widespread publicity.

Meanwhile, a film directed by Madonna's former husband, Sean Penn, reached fifth position at the box office.

The Pledge, a psychological thriller starring Jack Nicholson, took $5.7m (�3.9m) in its first week, according to the preliminary figures.

In fifth spot Paramount's What Women Want, starring Mel Gibson, took an estimated $7m (�4.8m) and has gleaned around $162.4m (�111m) to date.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon took seventh slot, climbing two places, and has earned around $37.7m (�26m) since release in the US.