Marvel Avengers Assemble tops UK box office chart

Marvel Avengers Assemble is the number one film in the UK and Ireland after taking £15.78m in its opening week.

The film sees comic book superheroes Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and Captain America team up to save the earth.

Its weekend takings exceeded those of Spider-Man 3, which had an £11.83m opening in 2007, and The Dark Knight, which made £11.19m on its 2008 debut.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is second in the box office chart after taking £1.08m between Friday and Sunday.

Source: Rentrak

Lasse Hallstrom's romantic comedy, starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, has now amassed £3.1m since its release on 20 April.

The Hunger Games comes third, ahead of The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists and The Cabin in the Woods.

Sci-fi action film Battleship slipped to fifth place after topping the charts in its first two weeks of release.

British comedy Outside Bet, starring Bob Hoskins and Phil Davis, made just £8,440 from 34 cinemas following some unfavourable reviews.

Marvel Avengers Assemble opens on Friday in the US and Canada, where it will be known more simply as The Avengers.