London Has Fallen tops U.K. box office despite criticism

Gerard Butler’s action sequel London Has Fallen has defied critics to top the U.K. box office on its opening weekend.
The Olympus Has Fallen follow-up, which also stars Morgan Freeman and Aaron Eckhart, was savaged in U.K. reviews and received condemnation from those affected by the 7/7 London bombings because of its scenes of terrorism and devastation in the British capital.
However, the negativity did not harm its success at the box office and it debuted at the top of the chart with $4.5 million (£3.2 million) over the weekend (04-06Mar16), doubling the take of its predecessor and dethroning Ryan Reynolds’ antihero movie Deadpool after a three-week run in peak position.
George Clooney’s latest comedy Hail, Caesar! placed second with an opening of $2.2 million (£1.54 million), narrowly surpassing Deadpool in third with takings of $2.1 million (£1.47 million).
The top five was rounded out by (The Brothers Grimsby (Grimsby) with $1.1 million (£800,000) and animation Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip with $761,000 (£536,000).