British actress Kate Beckinsale stars opposite Hugh Jackman

The film, based on the vampire hunter in Bram Stoker's Dracula, took nearly �5m in the three days until Sunday, despite a string of poor reviews.

In second place was the Jim Carrey film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which took just over �800,000.

The critically-acclaimed film has so far made more than �2.6m.

In third place was Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol 2, which took more than �774,000.

It has now been in the box office chart for three weeks and has taken nearly �7.5m.

Another new film, the romantic comedy Laws of Attraction, starring Julianne Moore and Pierce Brosnan, debuted at number four.

UK/ IRELAND FILM TOP FIVE 1 Van Helsing 2 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 3 Kill Bill Vol 2 4 Laws of Attraction 5 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed Source: Screen International Van Helsing takes �60m

Eighth place was taken by another new entry, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.

In fifth place was Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, which has so far made more than �15.6m in its six weeks on release in the UK.

British zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, continues to feature in the top ten. This week it is at number nine.