Ben Miller, Rowan Atkinson and Natalie Imbruglia star

The spoof thriller starring Rowan Atkinson has taken number one spot in 20 of its 22 openings around the world, raking in $19.98m (�12.80m), film website Screen Daily.com reported.

Its British opening was the second most successful of the year - only 8 Mile starring rapper Eminem had a better start.

The film's worldwide success has been put down largely to the popularity of Atkinson - known universally for his portrayal of the hapless Mr Bean.

The film has enjoyed a strong opening in many countries

It also went top in Germany, taking $4.5m (4.2m Euros), and Australia where it knocked Ned Kelly from the top with four-day takings of $1.5m (�960,000).

The movie also performed well in Israel, Spain and Italy but failed to go to number one in Denmark and New Zealand.

It has become latest British film to get off to a good start in the UK using the same launch schedule - opening a week before Easter.

Last year Bend It Like Beckham took �2m in its first weekend, and in 2001 Bridget Jones's Diary brought in �4.6m.

Bean, Atkinson's huge worldwide hit of 1997, took $232m (�148m), while Disney's The Lion King - in which he voiced Zazu - became the highest grossing animated film of all time, taking $772m (�494m).

Johnny English, directed by Peter Howitt, co-stars John Malkovich, Natalie Imbruglia and Ben Miller.

It will open in another 18 countries at the weekend, and in the US on 18 July.