Ioan Gruffudd (left) plays the loyal Lancelot to Clive Owen's Arthur

The Disney film, starring Clive Owen and Keira Knightley, took �1.9m in its opening weekend.

The comic-book hero Spider-Man sequel fell to second place, with weekend receipts of �1.5m taking its total UK takings to �20.8m.

Live action movie Garfield, featuring the voice of Bill Murray, took third place followed by Shrek 2.

Garfield, which has not enjoyed great reviews, took �1.1m in its first weekend of business.

UK/Ireland top five 1. King Arthur 2. Spider-Man 2 3. Garfield 4. Shrek 2 5. The Stepford Wives Source: Screen International

The remake of The Stepford Wives only entered the UK box office chart at number five, despite an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman and Glenn Close.

The live action adaptation of Thunderbirds slipped from three to six, with takings of �543,810 from 444 screens across the country.

Bollywood movie Mujhse Shaadi Karogi pulled in �183,473 from just 32 screens.

Promotion for teen flick New York Minute was hampered by one half of the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate, entering a treatment facility for a reported eating disorder, forcing them to cancel appearances at worldwide premieres.

Their movie took �109,106 in its opening three days in the UK, putting it 10th in the box office chart.