Thunder a wonder at UK box office

Stiller (left) both directs and stars in the action comedy spoof

Ben Stiller's comedy Tropic Thunder has gone straight to the top of the UK box office chart, making almost three times as much as its nearest rival.

The action spoof about actors forced to play soldiers for real took more than �2m between Friday and Sunday.

It also made �474,296 from two days of previews, putting it well ahead of Abba musical Mamma Mia! in second place and Meg Ryan comedy The Women at three.

Last week's box office champ, Pineapple Express, dropped down to four.

In a slow week for UK and Ireland cinemas, Tropic Thunder was the only title to gross more than �1m.

UK BOX OFFICE 1. Tropic Thunder 2. Mamma Mia! 3. The Women 4. Pineapple Express 5. The Duchess Source: Screen International

Stiller and co-stars Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr were in London last week for Tropic Thunder's UK premiere.

Stiller, who directed the movie, went on to promote his comedy at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain.

Next week's chart is likely to be dominated by thrillers, with Liam Neeson drama Taken going head to head with action remake Death Race from this Friday onwards.

Opening on Thursday, though, may give Robert De Niro and Al Pacino's Righteous Kill - their first film together since 1995's Heat - a crucial advantage.

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