UK and Ireland box office

1.Bridget Jones's Diary 2. Spy Kids 3. Rugrats in Paris 4.Miss Congeniality 5. Valentine

Meanwhile, last week's number one movie, animated feature Rugrats in Paris - another children's movie - slipped two places to number three with takings of �938,885.

Bridget Jones's Diary the movie is based on the hit novel by Helen Fielding, which began as a spoof column in The Independent.

The comedy has also performed well in the US box office charts where it opened at number three, taking $10.8m (�7.5m).

The film's UK release was hotly anticipated and preceded by considerable publicity.

It also enjoyed two days of preview screenings on 11 and 12 April, which contributed to its debut weekend takings.

Spy Kids: popular with families

Elsewhere in the UK film chart, former number one movie Miss Congeniality - starring Sandra Bullock - fell from number two to four with takings of �610,000.

At number five was the weekend's only other new release, teen horror movie Valentine, with takings of �461,104.

The film starring Denise Richards and David Boreanaz tells the story of a group of friends who are all being stalked by the same jilted lover.

The rest of the top 10 was made up of a selection of recent and old releases.

After three weeks in the charts, teen romance Save the Last Dance starring Julia Stiles fell to number six with �445,980.

Jennifer Lopez's two-week-old romantic comedy The Wedding Planner fell to number seven from four with takings of �311,450.

Horror movie Valentine was also a new release

The film, in which Lopez plays a wedding organiser who falls in love with one of her male clients, has failed to live up to its US success where it was number one for several weeks.

Oscar-nominee Chocolat fell two places to eight with takings of �149,544, after seven weeks on release.

Academy Award-winning Traffic, in its 12th week on release, also fell two places to seven with takings of �139,516.

And in 10th position came Men of Honor, falling five places in its third week after making �112,697.