Ritchie flick top at UK cinemas

Gerard Butler stars in the action movie

Guy Ritchie's latest picture RocknRolla has scored a number one debut in the UK and Ireland box office with initial takings of £1.56m.

The action-packed flick fended off the challenge of Abba musical film Mamma Mia! which remained at two in its ninth week of release.

The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, entered at number three, with Disaster Movie also new in fifth place.

Will Ferrell movie Step Brothers, last week at one, slid to number four.

Mixed box office

Batman epic The Dark Knight slipped from fifth to seventh spot after seven weeks on the chart and takings to date of £46.9m.

But Mamma Mia! stayed ahead of its long-running rival, with total ticket returns of £56.3m.

UK BOX OFFICE 1 RocknRolla - £1.56m 2 Mamma Mia! - £1.42m 3 The Duchess - £1.4m 4 Step Brothers - £1.1m 5 Disaster Movie - £925,654 Source: Screen International

The film has received an added boost in recent weeks from the cinematic distribution of a sing-along version.

Ritchie's box office performance in his home country has been a mixed affair.

His 1998 debut Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was a cinema hit but 2002's Swept Away, starring wife Madonna, was so widely panned it did not receive a UK release.