Rocky Balboa is the sixth instalment of the series

The sixth instalment of the 30-year-old series has taken �3.6m over its first weekend on release.

It pushed previous leaders The Pursuit of Happyness (�1.7m) and Night at the Museum (�1.4m) into second and third.

Oscar favourite The Last King of Scotland (�0.7m) is in fourth place and Casino Royale is still in the top 10 at six having taken over �54m.

The Beatrix Potter biopic Miss Potter, starring Renee Zellweger, was in fifth place after taking �0.6m with the only other new entry in the top 10, the multi-stranded drama Babel, at seven (�0.59m).

The top 10 is filled out by action Smokin' Aces (�0.5m), comedy Employee of the Month (�0.42m) and animated penguin musical Happy Feet (�0.41m).