Russell Brand comedy Arthur stumbles at UK box office

Russell Brand plays the role made famous by Dudley Moore in the original 1981 film

Russell Brand's remake of the 1981 comedy Arthur had a disappointing opening weekend at the UK and Ireland box office, taking just £764,468.

The film entered the chart at number three despite opening at 434 cinemas, averaging £1,761 per screen.

Fast & Furious 5 topped the chart with £4.01m - the biggest three-day opening of the year so far - taking an average £12,202 at each of the 437 cinemas in which it was screened.

Animated film Rio held at number two.

Arthur's poor opening will be a disappointment to film bosses after a more successful US opening of $12.2m (£7.4m) in its first three days.

The estimated $40m (£24.1m) budget movie, which also stars Dame Helen Mirren and Jennifer Garner, has earned $29.2m (£17.6m) to date.

The original 1981 film, which starred Dudley Moore and won two Oscars, took more than $95m (£57.3m) in worldwide box office receipts.

Boosted by a Thursday opening, the fifth instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise starring Vin Diesel took £5.3m over its first four days.

It helped bring the total box office haul for the top 15 films to £10.48m, the biggest in eight weeks.

However, takings for the rest of the top 15 were generally down for a bank holiday weekend.

Last week's number one, horror sequel Scream, fell three places to four with £730,963.

While Vanessa Hudgens film Beastly entered the chart at five after taking £553,069.

The biggest fall on the chart was James Franco and Natalie Portman comedy Your Highness.

After opening at three last week with £926,338, it fell eight places to 11 and took just £184,521, averaging £504 at 366 cinemas.