Ben Stiller failed to do the US and UK double

The film, which stars Ben Stiller, saw off the challenge of Middle East terror thriller The Kingdom, which entered at two with returns of �920,000.

Last week's number one Run, Fat Boy, Run, slipped to three after a reign at the top lasting four weeks.

In the US, The Heartbreak Kid was denied the number one spot by family friendly Disney film The Game Plan.

'Disappointing'

It had a "disappointing" opening in North America after it had been tipped to be a huge hit.

UK TOP FIVE FILMS 1 The Heartbreak Kid - �1.23m 2 The Kingdom - �919,537 3 Run, Fat Boy, Run - �724,183 4 Atonement - �560,252 5 I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - �509,036 Source: Screen International

The only other new entry, at number 10, was Control, the biopic of late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis.

Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, slipped from two to four.

The remainder of the films in the top ten, including Michael Clayton and Halloween, slipped down the chart.

But Mr Woodcock, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Susan Sarandon, climbed one place from eight to seven.