The Fantastic Four link up with an arch enemy in a bid to save Earth

The comic book adventure, which follows the 2005 original and stars Jessica Alba and Ioan Gruffudd, is currently number one in both the UK and US.

The film took �4.1m in the UK across the weekend, pushing casino caper Ocean's 13 into second place.

Horror movie Vacancy was the only other new entry in the top five, at four.

French thriller

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End continued to do strong business at number three, while Ice Cube comedy Are We Done Yet dropped two places to five.

UK AND IRELAND BOX OFFICE 1. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - �4.13m 2. Ocean's 13 (pictured) - �2.18m 3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - �1.61m 4.Vacancy - �0.56m 5.Are We Done Yet? - �0.34m Source: Screen International

Two Indian dramas, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Sivaji debuted in the top 10, entering at six and nine respectively.

They were joined by French thriller Tell No One, starring Kristin Scott Thomas, which debuted at number eight.

Rise Of The Silver Surfer sees Alba and Gruffud reunited with Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans to reprise their roles as a quartet of astronauts who are also mutant superheroes.

"We think Fantastic Four is a more family-friendly group of superheroes," Chris Aronson, of 20th Century Fox, told the Associated Press following the film's US success.