Pie stars: Alyson Hannigan, Jason Biggs and Seann William Scott

American Pie: The Wedding, starring Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan, took �4.1m in its opening three days, knocking Pirates of the Caribbean off the top after two weeks.

But Freddie Vs Jason, which brings together two of horror films' scariest characters, only debuted at number four, taking �785,870 over the weekend period.

In the US it made more than $36.4m (�23.1m) in its opening weekend, surprising analysts and raking in more than its $30m (�19.1m) production budget in its first three days.

UK/ Ireland box office top five 1. American Pie: The Wedding 2. Pirates of the Caribbean 3. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines 4. Freddy Vs Jason 5. Spy Kids 3D: Game Over Source: Screen International

The publicity surrounding Arnold Schwarzenegger's candidacy for governor of California has helped keep him and his movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines in the spotlight.

The movie slipped one place to number three after three weeks, with receipts of �1.9m taking its total takings to �14.5m.

Children's movies are proving popular during the school summer holidays with Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, Rug Rats Go Wild and Piglets Big Movie all remaining in the top 10.

There were just two new entries in the top 15, meaning films from outside the mainstream have had the opportunity to pull in audiences despite only being shown in a limited number of cinemas.