John Carter tops UK box office

The film stars Taylor Kitsch, from US drama Friday Night Lights

Disney's sci-fi film John Carter has debuted at number one on the UK box office chart, despite lukewarm reviews.

The movie, which had a disappointing opening in the US, made an estimated £2.1m according to Screen Daily.

It pushed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, in which a group of retired Britons travel to India, to number two.

Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' galactic adventurer, John Carter took $30.6m (£19.6m) at the US box office. It reportedly cost $250m (£160m) to make.

Starring Taylor Kitsch, John Carter has been panned by many critics.USA Todaybranded it "bloated, dreary and humorless".

Movie review website Rotten Tomatoes suggested that audiences were more positive than critics about the movie, with 72% of their users saying they liked the film.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was just behind John Carter on the UK chart, with takings of £2m. The film, which stars Dame Judi Dench, has now made more than £11m at the domestic box office.

Woman in Black fell one place to number three with £1.14m in ticket sales over the last week.

Hammer's adaptation of Susan Hill's ghost story has made a total of £19.5m since its release.

This Means War took £1.08m in its second weekend, putting it in fourth position.

The action comedy, about two spies who fall in love with Reese Witherspoon, was the highest new entry last week at number three.

Action thriller Safe House rounded out the top five, taking £850,000.