Max Payne shoots to top of US box office

John Moore's new film Max Payne claimed the top spot on the US box office chart during its first week of release.

The action thriller - starring Mark Wahlberg – pulled in around $18 million (£10.2 million) to claim the number one spot.

Wahlberg plays an undercover cop in the videogame adaptation, out to avenge the murder of his wife and daughter after being framed for a crime he did not commit.

Last week's number one, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, fell to second place, with period drama The Secret Life Of Bees making its debut at three.

However, W - in which No Country For Old Men star Josh Brolin plays president George Bush - could only mange an opening position of fourth place.

Paul Dergarabedian, of Media By Numbers, said he was unsurprised by the film's underwhelming debut.

"For me, an Oliver Stone film about George Bush doesn't necessarily scream big box office," he said.

W is scheduled for a UK release on November 7th.

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