Tarantino film tops UK box office

Brad Pitt stars in the World War II movie

Quentin Tarantino's film Inglourious Basterds has made its debut at number one at the UK and Ireland box office.

The movie, which stars Brad Pitt, raked in £3.5m during its first weekend, pushing The Time Traveler's Wife down to second place.

Dance Flick was the only other new entry on the chart at number six.

Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince is the biggest earner in the top 10, with box office returns of £48.2m after six weeks on general release.

Tarantino's success follows hot on the heels of a number one debut at the North American box office.

UK BOX OFFICE TOP FIVE 1 Inglourious Basterds - £3.5m 2 The Time Traveler's Wife - £915,751 3 G-Force - £654,909 4 Aliens In The Attic - £642,522 5 Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince - £598,335 Source: Screen International

His World War II drama, which tells the story of a group of Jewish-American commandos who plot to take violent revenge against the Nazis, made $36.7m (£22.2m) in its first weekend.

It is the most lucrative box office opening of the director's career, beating the mark set by Kill Bill: Vol 2 in 2004.

Elsewhere on a slow-moving UK box office, G-Force held steady at number three, Aliens In The Attic slipped to four, while other films including GI Joe slid further down the lower reaches of the top 10.