Harry Potter continues UK magic

Harry Potter has broken records around the world

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has kept its firm grip on the UK box office charts, taking more than £8m during its second weekend on release.

UK box office chart

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

2. Spy Game

3. The Others

4. Legally Blonde

5. American Pie 2

Source: Screen International

The film has now earned more money at UK cinemas in just 10 days than other box office successes such as Shrek, Cats and Dogs and Hannibal did during their entire runs in the country.

Its UK success reflects its popularity in the United States, where it has taken almost $190m (£132.7m) in 10 days.

And it has broken more records in a number of countries where it was released at the weekend, including Germany, Holland, Denmark and Brazil, according to Screen International.

Spy Game stars Robert Redford and Brad Pitt

Harry Potter has now taken almost £30m at UK cinemas, and earned more than eight times more ticket revenue than its nearest rival over the weekend.

Spy Game, a new release starring Brad Pitt and Robert Redford, was a distant second, taking just over £1m in its first three days.

Nicole Kidman's thriller The Others slipped to number three, while Legally Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon, moved down to number four.

The only other new entry in the top ten was Heist, written and directed by David Mamet, at number nine.

Other 2001 UK hits

Bridget Jones' Diary: £41.7m total takings

Shrek: £28.9m

Cats and Dogs: £22.9m

Hannibal: £21.4m

The Mummy Returns: £20.3m

Baby Boy, billed as a companion piece to Boyz N The Hood, entered at number 13 while former Brookside actress Anna Friel's latest big screen outing, Me Without You, could only enter at number 15, taking just £43,660.

Harry Potter broke UK and US box office records when it opened on 16 November - and it is currently in the race to be the film that reaches the $200m (£142m) mark in the US in the quickest time.

There is also a chance that it could take Titanic's title as the most successful worldwide film ever - but it is still yet to be released in some countries.

The film broke Germany's four-year record for the most successful opening weekend, selling 2.5 million tickets between 22-25 November, reported Screen International.

It also broke the same record in each of the four Scandinavian countries plus Holland, Austria and Brazil.

The film opens next week in countries including Japan, Spain, Australia and Israel.