American Gangster also topped the US box office earlier this month

During its opening weekend the film, which was directed by Sir Ridley Scott, made �2.5m at the box office.

Washington plays 1970s Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas in the movie, while Crowe stars as a New Jersey cop on his trail.

Computer-animated fantasy epic Beowulf, with Ray Winstone and Angelina Jolie, entered the chart at two, taking �2.1m.

Pixar's latest cartoon adventure, Ratatouille, remained in third place with takings of �937,667.

UK AND IRELAND BOX OFFICE 1. American Gangster - �2.5m 2. Beowulf - �2.1m 3. Ratatouille - �937,667 4. Stardust - �902, 701 5. Good Luck Chuck �737,423 Source: Screen International

Fantasy film Stardust, starring Claire Danes and Robert De Niro, fell from second place to fourth, followed by last week's number one, Good Luck Chuck.

Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth: The Golden Age was next on the chart in sixth place, with 30 Days of Night, starring Josh Hartnett, at number seven.

Bollywood blockbuster Om Shanti Om reached number eight in its second week of release, while Robert Redford's political drama Lion for Lambs was ninth.

Rounding off the top 10 was new release, Brick Lane, which took �194,745.