The film took nearly �2m in its first weekend

The fantasy thriller, from Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow director Roland Emmerich, beat last week's top-placed film, Vantage Point.

It took more than �1.93m, while Vantage Point took almost exactly �1m less to earn second place.

British comedy/horror film The Cottage was the highest other new entry, coming in at number six.

UK/IRELAND BOX OFFICE 1. 10,000 BC (�1.93m) 2. Vantage Point(�933,175) 3. The Game Plan (�759,084) 4. The Other Boleyn Girl (�716,978) 5. The Bank Job (�426,795) Source: Screen International

The Game Plan held steady at number three, while Scarlett Johansson's historical drama The Other Boleyn Girl dropped two places to number four.

Thriller The Bank Job completed the top five.

Emmerich's film tells the story of a young mammoth hunter's quest to secure the future of his tribe.

It took $35.7m (�17.7m) when it opened in the US earlier this month.