Carrey's film made $200m in a month in the US

The film took more than �7.26m in the three days to Sunday - almost six times as much as last week's number one, the car-racing thriller 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Bruce Almighty has already proved a massive hit in the US, taking more than $200m ($120m) in its first month on release there.

The film stars Carrey as a disillusioned television reporter, who, when passed over for promotion, blames God for his bad luck.

Top 5 UK Films 1. Bruce Almighty 2. 2 Fast 2 Furious 3. The Matrix: Reloaded 4. Wrong Turn 5. Identity Source: Screen International

God (Morgan Freeman) then appears, and gives him celestial powers with the challenge to see if he can do any better.

Last week's number one 2 fast 2 Furious is in second place, taking �1.13m in the three days.

The Matrix Reloaded, at number three, took �418,900 in the same period, dropping from second place. The film, starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, has now taken more than �31.1m in the UK in its six weeks on release.

The highest other new entry, Wrong Turn, is in fourth place with �370,500. The horror film is about a group of teenagers lost in the woods who are menaced by inbred mountain men.

John Cusack's Identity, a psychological thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians, is at fifth place having made �311,400.

Other new films in the top 10 are Nicholas Nickleby at number seven, and the Indian film Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon at eight.