American Hustle tops U.K. box office

Hit crime movie American Hustle has soared to the top of the U.K. box office in its opening weekend (03-05Jan14). The film starring Christian Bale, which earned 10 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards nominations on Wednesday (08Jan13), received a limited release in London last month (Dec13) but raked in profits of $5.1 million (£3.4 million) in its first weekend on general release.
It knocked last week’s number one, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, into second place, with takings of $4.8 million (£3.2 million), ahead of Frozen in third, with $3.4 million (£2.3 million).
Fun-filled comedy Last Vegas debuted in fourth place, with $2.7 million (£1.8 million), and the top five was rounded out by horror sequel Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, which took $2.2 million (£1.5 million) in its opening weekend.